Arsene Wenger has risked the wrath of Arsenal fans by launching a staunch defence on ticket prices.

Wenger even claimed fans have “no choice” but to go to games because supporting their club is like a religion.

Arsenal fans are being urged to join a protest at spiralling ticket prices after Liverpool supporters walked out last week in a hugely successful campaign which persuaded their club’s owners to rethink charging £77 for tickets.

The Red Action supporters’ group also want to join up with Leicester fans to snub the first five minutes of the Sunday 12 noon kick-off because they are unhappy the game was switched with just three weeks’ notice.

But while other managers like Jurgen Klopp and Slaven Bilic have backed the supporters after a week of fan power protests, Wenger went the opposite way and said clubs are within their rights to charge high prices.

Complicated: Wenger is unsure how you decide what price is right (
Image:
Reuters)

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Wenger said: “I see fans as supporters. Somewhere, I think they feel like [when] you are at home and use electricity, you have no choice. They go to the club, they have no choice. It’s a little bit like their faith.

“They want a fair price and I agree completely with you, because football started in the street with people building the club and coming from local places.

“You want people who live around the stadium to be capable to go to the game and watch the games. They are fans basically because they were born there.

“It is a very complicated subject. How do you decide what is the right level of ticket prices? First of all [you look at] your attendance and then you are being compared many times to foreign clubs.

Taking a stand: Liverpool fans at the recent clash with Sunderland (
Image:
Lindsey Parnaby/AFP/Getty Images)
Back down: Reds fans have forced their club to back down on their plans (
Image:
PA)

“I don’t think we are on the same level ground as foreign clubs. For example, Bayern Munich paid one Euro for their ground whereas we payed £128million for our ground.

“In France they pay nothing at all for their stadium, they pay nothing at all for their maintenance. We pay absolutely everything ourselves so we have to generate more revenue.

“It is true we get more television income, that is down to the audience and success but you know as well that it is down to the pressure of the market to pay for the players with a higher price and our expenses will come up straight away to increase their wages.

“After that you want the ticket prices to be as comfortable as possible for our fans. I looked at the comparisons, our cheapest prices is cheaper than anywhere in London.

Cheapest in London: Arsenal's cheapest tickets are lower than local rivals says Wenegr (
Image:
Getty)

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“Our most expensive price is a fraction higher than the other clubs in London. Our most common ticket price is lower than many places in England. I don’t think that we have a massive problem on that front.

“Yes, you have to find a compromise where everybody is happy and the away fans need to be there. We do our absolute maximum to help away fans to do that.

“We have specialised people who look at it, and we want the away fans to attend our games of course.”

Wenger might have got his sums wrong on what the stadium cost as the Emirates was believed to have been £350million and Arsenal do have some of the most expensive seats.

But Arsenal are among several clubs keen for the Premier League to try and find a solution for the cost of away games. The Premier League are considering capping tickets, subsidised travel and tickets.

Arsenal fans complain some teams like Norwich get cheap tickets at the Emirates for a low category game and yet the away fans pay more than £20 more for a top category game in the reverse fixture at Carrow Road.

Urge: Wenger wants the fans to get behind his side from the outset on Sunday (
Image:
PA)

Wenger also urged Arsenal fans not to to take part in the kick-off boycott and pleaded with them not to turn up late for the Leicester game.

“You want everybody there when the game starts. For me, the game is a joy and everyone has to be part of it. You can protest before and after, but during the game, you want everybody to be there,” said Wenger.

“Because it’s a moment of happiness in your life. Life is not every day fantastic - sometimes it’s boring, sometimes it’s difficult for many people. Football is a moment of happiness in your life, so don’t miss it.

In pictures - Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal:

Wenger also insisted that a protest should not be used as an excuse for mistakes on the pitch after Liverpool blew a two goal lead against Sunderland last week after their fans walked out.

“I wouldn’t like to use that as an excuse. I think, once the players are on the pitch, they are focused other job,” said Wenger.

“When you play football sometimes, I didn’t even know if it rained or not during the game because you’re so in the game that you do not focus too much on what is happening in the stands.”

Wenger expects a similar squad to face table topping Leicester on Sunday but had mixed news on his long term injury absentees.

Back in action: Welbeck is fit but needs action says Wenger (
Image:
Getty)

Danny Welbeck is close to a first team return but Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla could be out for another week.

Wenger added: “Cazorla and Wilshere, I can’t count on them in the next there or four weeks but everybody else yes [I will count on them].

“Danny Welbeck has done quite well. I think he is very close. Fitness-wise he is there it is just competition he misses.”

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