Amer El-zanty writes:

I have been an Arsenal fan for 14 years now. However it is only this season that I have managed to put my red membership to use. I also acquired travel club membership this season.

I have been to 20 games this season on this membership which for me is incredible and has provided me with the greatest moments of my life. However I feel that all these games are in vain when I compare them to the up and coming Carling Cup final. I have been to every single Carling Cup game this season but according to Arsenal Football Club that is not loyal enough to be considered for a Carling Cup final ticket.

Wednesday night’s incredible joy at a stunning defeat over Tottenham in extra time was soon replaced with a deflated feeling as I read the priority system for the final’s tickets allocation. I do not wish to take a knock at fans who have attended Carling Cup fixtures this season but I fail to see how many season ticket holders who have barely attended one tie should be considered over me in relation to the final.

I understand that this may sound selfish on my part but when you take into consideration the incredible amount of money I have spent travelling to West Brom, Everton and Liverpool, the latter in which it took me nine hours to get home including a four hour stopover in freezing Chester (as I live in Southampton) you can forgive me for feeling slightly bemused at the whole thing.

Particularly when I understand that other clubs have a system implemented where your final ticket is allocated based on how many of the ties you have attended in previous rounds. Anyway I know there isn’t much you may be able to do about it, but I feel it necessary to rant like a little girl over the matter in the hope that at least you bring awareness to the subject.

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Mike Barnett writes:

I must take issue with the prevailing sentiment that only fans that are able to travel to away games are true Gooners and are thus entitled to first grab at any possibility of tickets for any final we might be involved in. (Ed’s note – referring to the away credits scheme to decide which season ticket holders get priority for Cup Final tickets)

I was born and brought up only a stone’s throw from Highbury, attended my first game aged eight over 50 years ago, and have spent many thousands of pounds both on entrance fees and latterly season tickets supporting the team that I grew up knowing I should always refer to as The Arsenal.

I, like many others, now live away from north London and we go to great efforts to travel to home games - but because of personal circumstances, family obligations, work commitments and in some cases finance we are unable to accumulate the away credits needed to get a ticket for the final.

I fully understand the club’s dilemma concerning the limited number of tickets they are allocated by the Football League but they should not forget that we all support this wonderful club (the only one not named after a town or district) and should not be forgotten at Cup Final time. (Ed’s note – I have a feeling that every season ticket holder with less than three away credits that registers an interest for a Cup Final ticket will get one, so do what you need to and watch your email)