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Is Arsenal’s chairman right to say that they “don’t need to qualify for the Champions League”?

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Given that Arsenal are currently fifth place in the League, five points behind fifth place Chelsea and 15 points behind first place Manchester City, it’s not all that surprising that the club has started resorting to damage limitations. A loss against Manchester United on Sunday could seriously damage the Gunner’s chances of getting a top four finish – something most fans would deem unacceptable.

Arsenal’s chairman Peter Hill-Wood has said: “’We are hanging on in there, no more. From a financial point of view, not qualifying for the Champions League is quite a blow. We have been planning for not qualifying every year, so it is not a disaster, but it would be nice if we could.”

‘Nice’? That’s a rather poor choice of words considering the righteous indignation and anguish that would surface amongst Arsenal fans should they be pipped at the post.

Of course, Hill-Wood needs to make it clear that if Arsenal don’t make it to fourth place, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it’s his complacence, rather than his promise of financial security that is most perturbing. I think most fans will be disappointed rather than reassured when they read over these quotes.

Not qualifying for the Champions League would indeed be a massive blow, so why not make it clear to the fans that you’re doing everything you can to combat this eventuality? It’s clear that all is not well with this Arsenal side and that they need new recruits, but we’re not seeing this reflected in Arsenal’s activities in the transfer market, or in the statements from club officials.

As things stand Arsenal are in serious danger of stagnations and the unwillingness of the top brass to make things happen is deeply perturbing. When did this great club become content with mediocrity?

I don’t understand why Arsene and his team are unwilling to spend money now, when if they don’t and continue down this path towards a fifth, sixth or even seventh place finish they will lose out on a huge amount of money in the long-run.

Arsenal’s summer intake clearly wasn’t sufficient, but there are no signs that action is being taken to combat this. The fans have put in their end by consenting to increased ticket prices and it’s time that Wenger does what he can to ensure the Gunners remain a force.

And at this stage is there any way to do this without spending big money?

Source: ESPN

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