Manchester City’s pampered players have been given a stark reminder of the lengths supporters go to follow the team.

A match official on Sunday urged the players to thank fans for spending STG62 ($A95.50) to watch the Premier League win at Arsenal.

As on-pitch cameras rolled after Manchester City’s 2-0 victory at Emirates Stadium, linesman John Brooks told City and England defender Joleon Lescott: “They’ve paid 62 quid over there – go and see them.”

Brooks spoke as he and his other match officials shook hands with City players soon after the final whistle.

The increasing cost of ticket prices in the Premier League had been a major talking point before the match, with City reported to have returned more than 900 tickets of the club’s 3000 allocation in protest.

A string of chants by City fans throughout the game made reference to the prices at Arsenal, who charge up to STG126 ($A194) for a ticket to their home matches.

A banner reading: “62!! Where will it stop?” was held up by City supporters, before being taken down following a request by police.

“Officers assisted stewards at Emirates Stadium in order to prevent a breach of the peace, after away supporters were asked by stewards to take down a banner,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement released on Monday. No arrests were made.

A fans’ group – the Football Supporters’ Federation – have launched a national campaign on the issue.

The Premier League will not intervene, saying ticket prices are a matter for individual clubs, although its chief executive Richard Scudamore has sympathy for City fans.

“They have clearly made a judgment and I think the Man City fans, in fairness, have done what they should do if they think it is too much and not turned up,” Scudamore told the BBC on Sunday.

“As a top priority, we must keep away-fans attending. Clearly it is for individual clubs to get that right.”