ARSENE WENGER has blamed Easter for a near half-empty Emirates Stadium as Arsenal beat Stoke 3-0.
The Gunners boss admitted his side’s distant sixth place in the Premier League table was another factor.
But, after hailing Arsenal’s “exceptional” home form, Wenger told talkSPORT: “It’s explainable by the fact that it’s Easter.
It’s a family happening where people go away and it’s a fact that we don’t think about a lot in the Premier League.
“There’s also the fact that we had a break.
“It’s just down to the fact that we’re not fighting for the championship.
“People know that will not change now. They will be back on Thursday, don’t worry.”
Wenger was referring to the Europa League quarter-final first leg against CSKA Moscow.
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Winning that tournament is the only realistic way the Gunners can qualify for the Champions League next season.
And that fact, plus some pretty impressive results at the Emirates, convince Wenger the atmosphere will be much better then.
There were large gaps in the stands against Stoke, despite the attendance being given at 59,371.
Arsenal admit that figure is just the number of tickets that were sold or taken up.
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The Gunners, meanwhile, needed a late double from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, including a penalty, and a last-minute spot-kick from substitute Alexandre Lacazette, to finally see off second-bottom Stoke.
But Wenger said of the missing fans: “I’m not worried about that.
“I think at home this season we have been exceptional.
“It’s been away from home that we have lost our chances.
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“At home, if you look at the mathematical record and the number of goals we’ve scored, I don’t think the crowd can be explained by that.
“With my experience I can anticipate that we don’t go for the championship or for the top four, we are in front of a big game [Chelsea v Tottenham], it’s Sunday afternoon on Easter.
“All that can explain it.”
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