Arsenal announce Emirates redevelopment to increase capacity to original 60,600

780 seats had to be removed since 2006 so that the club could meet safety requirements and allocate appropriate disabled space.

ARSENAL will redevelop their Emirates Stadium to take the capacity back up to 60,600.

Safety requirements meant the Gunners were forced to remove 780 seats since 2006, but by the end of the 2019/20 season, these will be restored.

The project – named ‘Operation Saturn,’ could boost revenue by up to £10million-a-year by adding more seats to the existing club level tier.

It was first mooted back in September.

At the time an Arsenal spokesperson told Football.London: “We are working with Islington Council to assess viable options to increase our capacity at Emirates Stadium.

“As a result of a number of required stadium projects, our capacity has decreased over the last few years and we are looking at ways to bring this figure back up to allow more supporters to watch the team play at Emirates Stadium.

“We will communicate further details at a later date as these plans develop.”

The maximum capacity at the home of the Gunners is 60,432, with the record attendance set at 60,161 when the FA Cup champions played Manchester United on November 3, 2007.

At the moment, the upper tier holds 26,646 fans, the lower tier holds 24,425, the club level houses 7,139 and there are 2,222 seats at box level.

Current season ticket holders will be given the opportunity to move into the new seats, with their vacated seats then offered to fans on the waiting list.

The Emirates has been home to Arsenal since the 2006/07 season since the club moved from Highbury Stadium.