Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis unhappy with FA Cup final ticket allocation

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has expressed his disappointment at the allocation of tickets for next month’s FA Cup final against Hull City, with fans of both clubs set to be left disappointed.

The FA revealed on Monday that Arsenal and Hull will receive 25,000 tickets each for the final on Saturday 17 May.

Arsenal had received 49,000 tickets for Saturday’s semi-final victory over Wigan after the Latics had returned some of their original allocation and Gazidis is disappointed that so many “loyal supporters” will be unable to attend the final.

Gazidis said: “We are disappointed many of our supporters and also those of Hull City will be unable to get tickets to the cup final.

"We fully understand this is the showpiece FA fixture to celebrate the game as a whole, but we also believe the loyal supporters of the competing teams deserve a greater chance to see their team play in what is one of the biggest matches of the season. The balance in the FA’s allocation system is not right.

“Arsenal have approximately 45,000 season ticket holders and 150,000 members, many of whom come to games.

"They all give us their loyal support throughout a season but with the FA Cup final allocation at 25,000 there will be many disappointed Arsenal fans, who have supported the Club home and away for years, who will be unable to get a ticket to this historic match.”

Approximately 20,000 tickets will be distributed to “volunteers through the football family”, while 17,000 tickets are reserved for Club Wembley members.

Those who are successful in their application for tickets will be able to purchase them for between £45 and £115.

Arsenal will attempt to soften the blow for fans that are unable to get tickets to Wembley by showing the final on big screens at the Emirates Stadium.

Gazidis added: “We want this to be a special day for Arsenal fans wherever they are, and the screening will be a great way for thousands of our supporters who are unable to get to Wembley to watch the match together at Emirates Stadium.”