Arsenal women to play all league matches at the Emirates

Newly crowned European champions Arsenal will play all 11 of their Women’s Super League matches at the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium next season, the club said on Tuesday.

The Gunners made the Emirates their main home last season, hosting nine WSL games with an average attendance of 34,000.

Arsenal will begin their defence of the Champions League at Meadow Park, the longstanding home of the club’s women’s team, which will also host home matches in the domestic cups.

But should Renee Slegers’ side progress, their home knockout ties in the Champions League will also be at the Emirates.

Arsenal shocked Barcelona in Lisbon last month to become the first English side to win the Women’s Champions League since they themselves won it in 2007.

But they have not won the WSL since 2019 as Chelsea have stormed to six consecutive titles.

“For us, this is just the beginning, and bringing every WSL match to the Emirates is another step for more supporters to be part of this special journey,” said Slegers.

“We’ll come back next season, with fire in our hearts, more determined, more ambitious, and more together than ever.” 

Aston Villa and Leicester City hosted all their home WSL games at their main club grounds last season and Everton’s women’s team will move to Goodison Park next season as the men’s side move to a new stadium.

However, a report by Deloitte this week found that average attendances across the league dipped by 10 percent last season to 6,642 as the surge in interest generated by England’s Euro 2022 success faded.