Didn't you jump out of your chair when he scored.I sure as hell did.....we fought hard in that one......unlike theCL.
Arsenal Supporters' Trust have released their commentary on the club's accounts and very pleasing reading it makes too! https://www.arsenaltrust.org/feed/afc-finances/2019/-SimonHillfinancialanalysis The club has made operating losses over the last 2 years of around £40m. Monies from player sales in 17/18 masked some of this but purchasing Aubameyang and Lacazette and last season's motley crew have pretty done for this too and most of the family silver has now been sold. The days of flogging off a player every summer to Barcelona or Citeh have pretty much gone...along with Ramsey (one of only 2 really saleable assets). The infamous £200m cash reserve, so beloved of AFTV dickheads, seems to be pretty much spoken for with continued stadium debt and transfer payments. That money isn't available to spend unless they bet the farm on finishing Top 4 and risk a fire sale if it doesn't work. So, it's not just FFP that's ****ing them over. They've over committed on wages, as incomes have fallen. Increases on shirt deals and from stadium/shirt sponsorships aren't going to plug those gaps. There's another loss forecast for this season. The two ways the Trust see to get out of this circle of debt?.....Sell your best players and/or qualify for the CL..... When they missed out on CL in 2017/18, I told a rather snotty Gooner that it was"down the rabbit hole" if they didn't qualify this season. I've seen the future.... please log in to view this image
They just don't have the disgusting luck that Chelsky have (note to Nemesis : I hope your final reckoning for them is irreparable) . What the Goons would give to be in the CL having sold their best player for megabucks even though they have a season long transfer ban.
Their squad was too old, too **** and paid too much money. Cech, Lichsteiner, Koscielny, Monreal, Sokratis, Ozil and Mkhitaryan are all the wrong side of 30 and none of them justified their wages this season. Aubameyang's 29 and now the rumours about China suddenly make sense. Ramsey's 28 and gone, as is Welbeck, while Lacazette's the same age and barely keeping his place. Next up at 27 are Jenkinson and Mustafi, who are write-offs. What happened to Wenger's youthful sides, looking to the future, while competing in the present? The club lost it's vision and identity, swiftly followed by it's Champions League perch and money. It's a warning that we'd do well to heed.
I agree completely. I don't like Alan Sugar. However, he got one thing absolutely right. When he said it didn't matter how much the broadcasting deal with Sky was for, the clubs would piss it all away in wages. Arsenal have set out to ensure that they prove that point and are reaping a suitably harsh lesson. Paying top dollar for excellence is one thing but the clubs that have financial problems are those that pay top dollar for mediocrity. Do that and you can't sell the ****ers to rescue the ship when the wage bill gets too big. Nobody in their right minds is going to pay Mustafi, Kolasinac, Mkhiaryan and Ozil what they're paying. If they want rid, they're going to have to pay to have them taken away. We've got Vinnie and GKN on about a collective £55k per week. You can stick a '0' on the end of that for 2 of their players,who just aren't anywhere good enough to be paid what they are.
The classic "rob Peter to pay Paul" problem. A buying club can take a wage hit somewhat if the transfer fee is low. The selling club similarly have to decide over whatever period a poor transfer fee is offset by the savings on the wage bill. What can you say ... ??
The issue was that Wenger did retain his eye for youthful sides, but rather than polishing up players like van Persie, Fabregas or Toure instead he was mollycoddling players like Walcott, Wilshere and Gibbs as he'd convinced himself they were far better than the reality bore out
My Gooner cousin tells me that Aubameyang's CL bonus this coming season is £4.2m. He gets paid the bonus whether they qualify or not........