Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that the low attendance levels at last night's Europa League game against BATE Borisov were only to be expected.
The Gunners ended their group-stage campaign in style on Thursday as they saw off the visiting Belarusians 6-0.
While the official attendance figure stood at 54,648, it is understood that the 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium was in fact less than half full in a record-low showing.
However, Wenger has claimed that he bears no ill will towards fans who opted to stay away, considering that there was little at stake.
"I think you forget about [attendance] once you are on the pitch," he told reporters after the game.
"It's true that you prefer the ground to be full, but tonight there was not a lot at stake on the competitive side. No matter how many sit in the stands, you have to give them what they expect - and that's what we did.
"You respect the decision of your fans. They knew we were top of the group anyway and you could basically expect that.
"You have looked around last night in the Champions League in game number six, I have seen many grounds not full, or half empty. That is a bit the problem of the group stage."
Arsenal, who face Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday, will discover their next opponents on the European stage in the last-32 draw on Monday.
Dan Saney
