Arsenal has today announced action to ensure men’s matches remain accessible for its local community by making 1,000 tickets available free of charge across the 2025/26 season.
Arsenal in the Community will ensure these tickets go to local supporters who connect with the club through its education and employment, social inclusion, and sport, health and wellbeing programmes.
Arsenal was born out of community in 1886 and has always understood its place and responsibility. Back then, matchday programme cards were sold to support the local home for working boys in Victorian London.
That sense of community is as true today as it was in 1886, formalised through the work of the club’s community team – Arsenal in the Community – which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
Set up in 1985, Arsenal in the Community was a response to social unrest in inner-city London. Arsenal opened its doors to offer a safe space to play football and develop programmes which responded to the needs of its community.
Today, Arsenal in the Community provides many ways for people to connect with the club beyond a matchday, delivering sport, health, social, educational and employment initiatives to more than 5,000 people each week.
In November 2024, Arsenal launched its first social impact report reflecting on the value delivered in 2022/23. The report showed that 14,000 people participated in Arsenal in the Community initiatives in the time period, which was delivered through 140,000 hours of activity. Other key findings included supporting 4,400 jobs in the UK and 1,600 local jobs in Islington.
The club also delivered £616m in economic value to the UK economy with £425m delivered in Islington.
Freddie Hudson, Head of Arsenal in the Community, said: “Arsenal in the Community acts to create a sense of belonging in our local communities 365 days a year. Driving progress has always been central to who we are, and we are proud of the positive impact we continue to make today.
“As we mark Arsenal in the Community’s 40th year, we’re proud to make 1,000 tickets available to our men’s matches for our participants with whom we connect week in, week out.
“There are so many ways people feel a sense of belonging to Arsenal and our community programmes are an important personal and meaningful way. This initiative ensures our connection is even stronger which sees our community and team fuelling each other.”
