The Arsenal Supporter’s Trust submitted questions for Ivan Gazidis to answer in the end of season Q and A. I previously wrote an article regarding this and after watching the video and speaking to various people I thought a follow-up article was due. As you would have read from the article before the meeting there were some interesting questions that needed to be answered. We haven’t exactly been the firing cannons we should have been the last few seasons and it’s time to find out why.
Ivan Gazidis spoke confident and eloquently and much like a politician, he looked comfortable throughout and it seemed to me that his words were rehearsed. Then I found out that he had a chance to prepare his answers to the questions before the meeting started. I think a much better solution would have been to stick to the previous set up of putting the board on the spot. He avoided answering some questions straight away preferring to keep talking and referring back to the model that Arsenal are trying to achieve. He defended before the Q and A even started by saying we still have “an awful lot to be proud of” That to me is a surefire sign that something isn’t what it is meant to be.
Gazidis on:
Last season – Gazidis speaks of the last season as one that Arsenal came out of with credit…albeit not triumphant. He said “there were moments in last season that he would not like to relive”. A season of “mixed emotions”, there were times when the public lost belief and that was visible. For every low moment there were times when we had highs to match. He also said at the lowest moment they had, the team didn’t fall apart.
12/13 Season – He insisted they were not content with 3rd and that they want to be competing to win trophies on a regular basis. 3rd is not a consolation prize. He said in regards to the actions that go on behind closed doors- that “if it’s not seen then people do not think that we are doing it”.
Emirates and Arsenal’s Business Model – He talked a lot about this issue throughout many questions. The plan that Peter Hill-Wood and the board had was trying to move Arsenal forward in terms of competing and also enabling a future plan of making Arsenal FC a sustainable club in monetary aspects. Hill-Wood knew that stadium couldn’t be done alone without investors and sponsorship so they went ahead with the Emirates.
The Emirates was a move that would hopefully “propel Arsenal to the top echelons of clubs in Europe” but they didn’t take into account the huge price hikes and the nature of teams around us becoming a lot more competitive. They still insist that when Fifa’s Fair play rules come into effect that Arsenal will be the better club for it. Gazidis was also asked if they don’t believe in football clubs that are unsustainable then why do they accept money from said clubs-to which Gazidis replied that if it benefits Arsenal then they will do it.
” Gazidis was also asked if they don’t believe in football clubs that are unsustainable then why do they accept money from said clubs-to which Gazidis replied that if it benefits Arsenal then they will do it.”
In other words just more hypocrisy from this inept clown. Does he really belive that the corrupt Uefa will seriously try to implement the FFP rules -I doubt it so Fifa aWhy is he afraid to answer the questions that most supporters want answered?
The whole Arsenal board are W______. They are only after profit and that is it. If along the way they win something it is a bonus. Gazidiz does not know a f___ about football. A mouth piece for the board.
David 5:16…..Gazidis ‘a mouth piece for the board’- of course he is, he’s the Chief Executive. If that’s not stating the bleeding obvious I don’t know what is. I’m not an apologist for Gazidis but just to follow your argument, if the board are in it for profit(they get wages but I’ll give you that) then greater success will lead to greater ‘profit’- commercial renegotiations and financial incentives.
I guess you just want money thrown at it like Citeh and Chelski- let’s be honest.
Come on you Reds!