According to The Telegraph Arsenal are mulling over an upgrade of the Emirates Stadium as they plan to increase the capacity from 60,700 to over 70,000. The report claims that “the club have options to change the gradient of the stands and can also adapt the stadium’s seating plan to fit in more fans, but the outer bowl would remain similar in appearance as the majority of developments being assessed would come inside the ground.”
Chelsea are also considering renovating Stamford Bridge, although their ambitious plans keep hitting snags. After the news of Arsenal’s plans came out, Blues fans accused the Gunners of sabotaging their plans to redo their home ground by occupying Wembley, which the west Londoners may also need to do should they push on with rebuilding their home ground or constructing a new one.
@postmanabides wrote on X: “Lol Arsenal gonna block us from expanding the Bridge by preventing Wembley from being our temporary home.”
@ChelsTransfer said, regarding plans to improve the stadium: “One day, we will too…”
@MlrPaul2001 wrote: “Would Chelsea fans be ok playing at Wembley for a season while the bridge is expanded? Genuine question…”
@JordanCFC9 posted: “So a potential Wembley temporary home could be off the table for us, maybe Twickenham?”
@notambn commented: “Meanwhile Chelsea fans are planning to protest the ownership model for being too forward thinking while the club is left behind on an old stadium.”
If Arsenal pick Wembley as their preferred temporary home ground, this won’t be the first instance that they play at the home of English football. The Gunners played six Champions League games at that venue during the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons.
Before the international break, Mikel Arteta’s side finally climbed to the top of the Premier League with their latest win over West Ham. Champions Liverpool, on the other hand, are now one point behind the Gunners after back-to-back losses against Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
