Note: We at LastWordOnSports are proud to have added Jamie Powell to our footy department. Jamie is a lifelong fan of the game, and is a Gooner at heart. He will be covering the English Premier League for us. You can follow Jamie on Twitter – @JimPow77.
We’ve all had a torrid time as Arsenal fans. The amount of stick I’ve put up with is unbelievable and is seemingly never ending. Pundits seem to spill over at each Arsenal loss, reminding us about the last time we won a major trophy as if we didn’t know. Bugger off, I say.
But in hindsight we all have to look at the bigger picture.
Amongst our biggest commodities going for us is that we just so happen to have built a stadium that ranks amongst the best in the world without putting the club in massive debt. Sure, we used young players to plug the gaps to scrape out an existence, which didn’t work as far as our trophy case goes, but I think there is light at the end of the tunnel. The financial landscape in North London, for us anyway, is quite bright. We are making cash, a lot of it, and that must make the Board smile just a little. Wenger never smiles, but I’m sure even he feels warm and fuzzy inside.
Arsene has a considerable amount of money to spend. I know most Arsenal fans have run out of patience with Wenger, and I can’t disagree entirely, but you tell me one manager that has stuck by a club through what has been thrust at him. In the end, we are 5 players short of a quality squad – a very quality squad.
Julio Cesar looks to have signed considering Sky Bet, Paddy Power suspended betting. Let’s assumed he’s signed, and Sanogo has too. I ask did anyone hear of Anelka before he signed ? Worked out pretty well, yes?
Arsene wenger has repeatedly signed quality players in his tenure probably more so than any other manager without spending more than the club makes – and that has what has made Arsenal at the very least “competitive”. Ask any Liverpool or Spurs fan and I’d say they would rather be in our position (okay, maybe Spurs fans might not admit to that). We have the stadium in place, no debt, and pockets full of cash. This all pointing to the makings of a great side.
Compare that to the aforementioned Spurs and Liverpool who need new stadiums to compete at the top level,but in the current financial climate I don’t think it possible to build a new stadium and maintain the integrity of a quality side. It’s easy to say a new stadium is needed and another thing entirely to build it.
As players get older they absolutely would not have had the money to compete, which is why I think Arsenal’s timing was perfect. There was no way in a million years we could have afforded to do what we have done at the present time. If Arsenal were building the Emirates in the present financial climate you would be chatting nearly double what it cost almost 10 years ago now.
Again comparing the club to their North London rivals, it is my belief that Spurs will have to sell Gareth Bale to build the stadium. It will mean they won’t be able to reinvest in the squad without taking a huge loan. Sometimes the ‘two steps back for one step forward’ theory is accurate. Just like in Arsenal’s case, it might just be a painful step that some big clubs need to take.
I think Arsenal are going to blossom now that the money is there.
Dear Arsene,
Please, PLEASE, spend the money necessary to get us back to where we should be – challenging for trophies. Reward loyal Gooners around the world for their undying support through thick and thin.
Regards,
All Gooners
PS – Is there any way you can put a lid of Piers Morgan? Just curious….
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