One demand Mikel Arteta will make as Arsenal weigh up ambitious Emirates Stadium expansion plans

Arsenal are continuing to explore ways of increasing the capacity and revenue potential of the Emirates Stadium, but one thing appears clear as discussions continue behind the scenes.

Any future redevelopment is unlikely to come at the expense of the team's home advantage, with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta reportedly keen to avoid a temporary relocation while work takes place.

Mikel Arteta doesn't want Arsenal to have a temporary stadium

Arsenal have been assessing options for upgrading the Emirates Stadium amid unprecedented demand for tickets.

The club currently has a capacity of 60,704, but with a season ticket waiting list reportedly standing at around 125,000 supporters, increasing capacity has become a major talking point.

However, any large-scale expansion faces significant challenges.

One option would be to excavate below the existing structure and add substantial numbers of seats, potentially increasing capacity by around 10,000. Yet logistical issues involving underground infrastructure, combined with the huge financial cost, could make such a project difficult to justify.

According to The Times, Arteta is reluctant to pursue any solution that would require the team to leave the Emirates Stadium and play home matches elsewhere during construction.

That could effectively rule out some of the most ambitious redevelopment options, including temporary moves to venues such as Wembley Stadium, just as arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur did when building their impressive home.

Instead, a more realistic route may involve remodelling parts of the stadium to create around 5,000 additional seats, with a particular focus on expanding premium and hospitality offerings.

FGG says: Mikel Arteta's stance makes complete sense

From a football perspective, it is hard to argue with Arteta's thinking.

The Emirates has become a genuine fortress in recent seasons, culminating in their first Premier League title in 22 years, so asking Arsenal to spend multiple years playing home matches elsewhere would inevitably dilute some of that advantage during a period when the club continues to compete for major honours.

The challenge is that keeping Arsenal at the Emirates throughout construction may limit just how ambitious any expansion can be.

Supporters would undoubtedly love to see capacity pushed significantly higher, but the reality of working around a live stadium often means compromise.

A smaller expansion completed while remaining at the Emirates may ultimately be the most practical solution, even if it falls short of the transformational project some fans would like to see.