Gunners stadium bill £100m over budget

ARSENAL have admitted their new stadium is set to run £100m over budget.

The Gunners had expected their new 60,000-seater arena at Ashburton Grove to cost around £200m but director Danny Fiszman admitted complications in gaining planning permission had added another 50% to that figure.

Fiszman said: “It is more expensive than we originally anticipated. Part of it have been the obligations which will add £100m to the bill. Without them we would not receive planning consent.

“It concerns affordable housing, transport contributions, re-building the waste recycling centre, relocation issues. They are our obligations to the environment.”

However, Fiszman - who is also the club’s largest shareholder - insists boss Arsene Wenger’s transfer kitty will not be affected.

He added: “I want to stress that Arsene’s budget will not be affected in any way by this project.

“The new stadium will create sufficient extra income to pay the debt and put substantial ammunition in Arsene’s pocket.

“Our intention has always been to stay competitive with our wages and in the transfer market. We will not have to change that.”