The Arsenal Supporters' Trust have written an open letter to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin criticising the Gunners’ early Europa League kick-off time and urging the organisation to avoid a repeat in future rounds.

The second leg of Arsenal’s Europa League last-32 tie against BATE Borisov will start at 5.55pm on Thursday due to UEFA guidelines which stipulate two matches cannot be played in the same city at the same time.

Chelsea face Malmo in west London at 8pm and although UEFA have moved the kick-off – the game was originally scheduled for today at 5pm – the AST are seeking further answers.

“This is a totally unacceptable and inconvenient kick off time for a vast number of Arsenal fans who have to travel to the game after work from across London, the South East and further afield,” wrote the AST.

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“The result will be a huge number of empty seats and many fans having to pay for a ticket on their season tickets which they cannot use.

“This is unfair on Arsenal supporters and will lead to a poor atmosphere in the stadium.

“Can you also give a reassurance that having been faced with this situation that UEFA will ensure that such scheduling does not occur again.”

The 5.55pm and 8pm kick-off times is a policy built around television scheduling. Arsenal are understood to view the kick-off time as far from ideal, having to overcome difficulties in securing enough stewards to maintain Emirates Stadium on the night.

The game is officially a sell-out as it is included in the club’s seven cup credits issued with each season ticket but it remains to be seen how many fans will be able to make it for kick-off.

UEFA declined to comment when contacted by Standard Sport.