'There should be fines levied when clubs do this': Arsenal slammed for handing out 60,000 plastic bags for pre-match display against Valencia Organisers of Arsenal display insist the plastic bags are in fact biodegradable Arsenal handed out the bags for a colourful display ahead of the Valencia game Robert Peston led the criticism following the Europa League clash on Thursday By Sportsmail Reporter Published: 17:09 BST, 3 May 2019 | Updated: 17:09 BST, 3 May 2019 Viewcomments Arsenal have been criticised for handing out plastic bags ahead of the Europa League clash with Valencia on Thursday night. Prior to Arsenal's 3-1 victory in the first-leg of the European semi-final, plastic bags were dished out on every seat in the home end at the Emirates as the club looked to produce a colourful display to ramp up the atmosphere. And it worked as Arsenal secured a two-goal lead heading into the second-leg at the Mestalla Stadium, with Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both on the scoresheet. Arsenal put on a very colourful display ahead of kick-off against Valencia in the Europa League The plastic bags were handed out on every seat in the home end prior to kick-off on Thursday ITV political editor Robert Peston slammed Arsenal's use of the plastic bags at the Emirates But the club have come in for criticism following the pre-match display for the use of 60,000 red and white plastic bags, with Robert Peston leading the way. The ITV political editor took to Twitter to point out his anger: 'Handed out to all Arsenal supporters, placed on each seat. 60k plastic bags. 'WTF! Hello @michaelgove. There should be fines levied when clubs do this.' One football fan wrote: 'Climate change is real. What do Arsenal do... print on 60,000 carrier bags.' This football fan also criticised the north London outfit following the pre-game display This supporter claims he would have preferred to have received a 'flag or scarf' And the criticism kept flooding in following the Europa League semi-final encounter Someone else slammed Arsenal, saying: 'In the day and age when plastic pollutes our oceans, Arsenal give out 60k bags for entertainment.....would rather have had a flag, or scarf!' After coming in for criticism, REDaction - organisers of the pre-match display - took to social media to let those complaining know that the bags are in fact biodegradable. They even said prior to the display that they would be using biodegradable bags. REDaction, organisers of the display, replied to Peston, calling the bags biodegradable REDaction told fans before the European clash that the bags used would be biodegradable Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility