February 16, (THEWILL) – Arsenal are considering a “multi-million pound refurbishment” of the Emirates Stadium before the start of the next season.
The Emirates Stadium, which replaced the ancient Highbury as the Gunners’ home stadium in the summer of 2006, is now entering its 16th year of operation.
General wear and tear, including roof leaks, are inevitably beginning to show, ahead of a planned “major investment” in the stadium over the coming months and summer. In addition to corrections and a general overhaul, it is expected that stadium technology will be enhanced.
This week, CEO Vinai Venkatesham informed fan groups of intentions to replace club crests and banners at the stadium.
Investing in the Emirates is critical given that Tottenham constructed a new state-of-the-art stadium in 2019, Manchester City and Liverpool continue to renovate and enhance, and Chelsea has ambitions to redevelop Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Manchester United has been heavily chastised in recent months for the deterioration being witnessed at games in Old Trafford.
The Emirates announcement comes despite the fact that Arsenal is expected to incur huge financial losses in the 2020/21 season as a result of the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic and inability to return to the Champions League. Missing out on European football entirely last season will also ensure that the current financial slump continues.
Manager Mikel Arteta has been clear about the fact that the club’s financial capacity and how appealing they are to potential targets will be influenced by where they finish in the Premier League this season.
The Gunners are presently four points behind Manchester United in the race for fourth place, but they have three games in hand.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
