AISA – the Arsenal Independent Supporters Association – has conducted a consultation process with over 10,000 Arsenal fans on the issue of away supporters, how much they pay and whether the ticket prices for away support should be capped or not.

The conclusion was a big “yes” to a price cap, and to the idea of reducing ticket prices.

There were also ‘fairness’ concerns expressed about away fans having cheaper tickets than home supporters, but the massive additional costs that away fans incur, and the value they bring to the atmosphere, outweighed these arguments in the majority of replies, according to AISA.

As Arsenal matches are generally category ‘A’ at most opposition clubs, Arsenal away fans will be amongst the supporters who will benefit the most, if this campaign is successful. Many fans also see this as a “first step in reducing the exorbitant prices charged for Premier League matches for all supporters” to quote one reply to the AISA survey.

But… I want to add a note or four of caution.

The AISA ideal is based on the idea of everything working reasonably and fairly. But in football this doesn’t happen. As we know, most away fans at Arsenal stand for much of the game, and this is by and large tolerated. Except that when we have played at Aston Villa it is anything but tolerated, and Villa cut the number of tickets we could have, because of what they saw as the refusal of Arsenal fans to co-operate.

Then there is the issue of where in the ground you put away fans. Some clubs, obeying the current regulations that away fans must not be charged more than home fans would pay for similar accommodation, have deliberately put the away fans in expensive areas – even when there are cheaper areas that are left empty for all but the largest of matches.

Indeed Arsenal might be walking into this situation. When the Emirates was built it was decided, by Arsenal, and without any consultation, to give away fans the south east corner of the lower tier. That section is now blocked off from the rest of the Emirates which one can walk right around in the catering and bar areas, should one have the desire so to do.

However following protests which have been voiced by AISA (although I am not sure if they have put this point to Arsenal) it has been suggested that away fans should go into the upper tier, thus leaving the cheaper lower tier available for Arsenal fans. (There is a bigger demand for lower tier seats because of the price implication).

If Arsenal do put the away fans in the upper tier (a move that will cost the club around £1m in rebuilding costs as the area does have to have its own access and egress, with no communication possible with the rest of the stadium) then that will go against the new policy.

But the fact is that premier league clubs need money because they spend so much on player wages. As fast as more money comes into the clubs, so it goes to players whose agents demand more and more. A £5m a year salary for a player is commonplace – the top men earn £10m a year.

So thoughts of reducing prices for games would mean that less money has to be spent on players which in turn means less chance of doing well.

We are used to a sell-out at almost every game at the Emirates, but that is not guaranteed. An Arsenal performing as it did under George Swindin and Billy Wright, or indeed under Bertie Mee and George Graham, during the latter part of their respective reigns, would lead to a return to crowds of 30,000 – the norm at Highbury. Indeed in the worst of times Highbury crowds sank to 20,000. (Our lowest was around 4500 at the end of the Billy Wright reign).

When looked at this way the whole notion of ticket prices for away fans becomes an irrelevance. What is important is the club’s ability to compete, and for that higher wages have to be paid. And for that we need ever more money coming into the club.

With such logic putting the away fans in the upper tier and giving the lower tier to Arsenal fans all the way round, would make no difference to the total income, although it might alienate some away fans and lead to silly stories in the Telegraph and Guardian about £100 tickets and the like.

But there was something rather special in watching the mass ranks of Dortmund fans in their standing areas in the Champions League semi-final a few weeks back; however that came as much as anything from the fact that at the end of the game the Dortmund players went to the crowd and bowed to them, and then sat on the grass in front of the fans, paying homage.

Now that I would like to see at Arsenal, whether I’m in the upper or lower tier.