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Arsenal FC – Little more than FFP Preppers?

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Being all the way out here in Hong Kong has is its advantages and disadvantages.  Advantages include a warm climate, a diverse and vibrant city life, a booming economy and the chance to watch every single EPL match at any time (including 3pm kick offs) for a fraction of the cost back in the UK.  Disadvantages include crap tea, 95% humidity and access to only a few English speaking TV channels.

Whilst relaxing between fixtures the other day I managed to stumble across what has to be one of the most horrifically intriguing programs of recent times shown on National Geographic – ‘Doomsday Preppers’.  Basically, the production team visit a number of people or families in the USA who are preparing for the eventual ending of the world – and when I say prepare, I mean more than just saving ones soul with a trip down to the local religious house more frequently.  No, these guys are taking no chances.  They are preserving their own food, learning martial arts, map reading, enrolling on survival courses and even buying their own large properties in the wilderness to in effect create their battle HQ when judgment day finally arrives.

Most of the people interviewed are aware that what they are doing is having a drastic, often catastrophic effect on their previously normal lives.  Family are often roped in somewhat reluctantly and likely scarring children for life, friends and lovers often leave these obsessive numpties, and any sense of a normal existence is forgotten as these people constantly live on the edge alongside ultimate disaster.  Not for them the simple pleasures of relaxing on a Saturday evening with a curry, some wine and Match of the Day, no no no.

This concept of preparing so thoroughly for a future (likely far off) event to the utter destruction of life itself in the realm of ‘now’ has got me thinking, and following the recent AGM at Arsenal, sadly the biggest event in their footballing calendar these days, I get the feeling that there are some people high up in positions of power at the Emirates that are becoming ‘Financial Fair Play Preppers’.

Now, before I get a load of abuse, I actually like Arsenal.  Whilst not a ‘supporter’ of the club, I thoroughly enjoy the way they (used to) play football, the philosophy behind the club and the youth program, the new stadium is staggeringly amazing, especially for a new development, and in Mr. Wenger they have a truly great footballing man at the helm.  All that being said, they’ve won sod all for 7 years, 5 months, 4 day and 10 hours at the time of writing (thanks to www.sincearsenallastwonatrophy.co.uk).

Now, just because they haven’t won a trophy for a while does not mean they have not been in some ways successful.  Consistently finishing 4th and accessing the Champions League is no easy task, but is in itself no real achievement if one does not go on and make an impact in the competition.  For all the many seasons Arsenal have played in the Champions League, their one solitary final is scant return.

Sound financial planning means Arsenal are not prepared to fork out bucket loads of money for mediocre players, and rightly so.  However, they also will not fork out to keep their best players and so lose van Persie et al. who interestingly have mainly gone on to win some form of trophy at their new clubs.

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