Arsenal face Wembley move with Emirates Stadium expansion

Arsenal are looking to expand the Emirates Stadium and could temporarily relocate to Wembley, according to reports.

The Gunners moved to their 60,704-seater stadium during Arsene Wenger’s reign in 2006 but are now looking to increase capacity beyond 70,000.

The Telegraph reports that Arsenal have examined Real Madrid’s €1.7 billion (£1.5bn) expansion of the Santiago Bernabeu, which took capacity to 84,000 but also included a new retractable roof and retractable pitch system.

As part of their renovation works, Arsenal are looking to modernise the Emirates Stadium and increase capacity by changing the gradient of the stands in order to hold more fans.

The expansion would mean that Arsenal would boast the biggest Premier League ground in London ahead of Tottenham’s stadium which can hold 62,850 supporters, and West Ham’s London Stadium, which has a capacity of 62,500.

However, Arsenal would need to relocate during the works and a move to Wembley is one obvious solution.

During the build of their £1.2bn stadium, Tottenham played all of their home games at Wembley in the 2017-18 season and delays meant that the first fixture at their new ground was not played until April 2019.

Spurs paid £15 million to play their home fixtures at Wembley for nearly two years.

Arsenal, meanwhile, spent £390m on building the Emirates Stadium but were able to stay at Highbury during the two-year construction.

The Telegraph reports that cost of £500m for Arsenal’s stadium expansion has been estimated.

Manchester United are currently in planning stages to build a new stadium on the site of Old Trafford and initial estimates have put the cost at £2bn.

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