Arsenal Consider Temporary Move to Wembley as Emirates Expansion Plans Advance

Arsenal could be set for a temporary relocation to Wembley Stadium as the club explores ambitious plans to expand the Emirates Stadium to a capacity of over 70,000.

The Gunners are reportedly assessing several options to increase their ground’s current 60,700 capacity, which would see the Emirates reclaim its status as the largest club stadium in London. According to The Telegraph, the project could mirror the approach taken by North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who played home fixtures at Wembley while constructing their new stadium on the site of White Hart Lane.

Sources suggest Arsenal’s plans include altering the gradient of the stands and reconfiguring the seating layout to accommodate more supporters, all while preserving the stadium’s distinctive outer bowl design.

Next season will mark two decades since Arsenal left Highbury for the state-of-the-art Emirates Stadium, which was the biggest club venue in London and the second largest in the Premier League when it opened. However, it has since been overtaken by several rivals. West Ham United’s London Stadium now holds 62,850, Tottenham’s new ground seats 62,500, and Liverpool’s expanded Anfield boasts a capacity of 61,276.

Increasing the Emirates’ capacity is projected to generate tens of millions of pounds in additional annual revenue and could help address Arsenal’s season ticket waiting list, which exceeds 100,000.

The redevelopment plans have gathered pace in recent months, though they remain highly complex. The proposed expansion is expected to involve upgrades across nearly all sections of the stadium rather than a single stand and could cost several hundred million pounds to complete.

The club also faces geographical constraints. The 17-acre Emirates site sits within a densely populated residential area, bordered by the Victoria and Piccadilly Tube lines, multiple train stations, and the Great Northern railway line.

Despite these challenges, early discussions with architects are said to have been positive, with confidence growing that a significant expansion could be achieved within the existing footprint of the stadium.