From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/18/arsene-wenger-arsenal-transfer-budget Ivan Gazidis says Arsène Wenger has a "substantial" transfer budget and there is no practical or ideological barrier to him spending plenty of it on a single "world-class" player. The Arsenal chief executive offered a measured yet robust endorsement of the club's self-sustaining business vision, maintaining they must consider the "efficiency of spend" and that they had to do things differently to the very biggest spenders because "we don't have those kind of resources". But, in the face of supporter frustrations at the relative lack of in-coming deals thus far, Gazidis made it plain that Wenger had identified the squad's shortcomings and he would be backed in the quest to address them. The manager has already signed the striker Gervinho and the young right-back Carl Jenkinson for a combined £11.6m while Gaël Clichy has moved to Manchester City for £7m. "We still will be active in this window," Gazidis said. "We haven't finished our business at all. We're just not conducting it publicly. We're working hard privately. We understand where the weaknesses have been. "Financially, we're in a strong position. We have resources to spend. We're certainly not sitting there saying 'Let's hold back on our resources for some reason.' Why would we? The resources are there. "They're not there to compete with the Manchester Citys of this world and, frankly, if they were, Manchester City would just increase their bids again. You're just never going to be able to compete with limitless amounts of money but we've got a substantial amount of money that we can invest." Gazidis is aware that a section of the support crave a big-money statement signing and he said that Wenger, despite his reputation for preferring diamonds in the rough, was not opposed to making such a purchase. "If we found an established, world-class player and we thought the economics made sense and he would add to what we could do on the pitch, then there's no philosophical objection to that," Gazidis said. "Arsène has no point of principle to show the world that he can build his own team of young players. That's just not the way it is. "Our fans have the right to be excited, to look forward to the season with anticipation and to expect to see top-class players and exciting things happening on the pitch. It's our goal and target to deliver all of that." Gazidis believes Wenger's style and vision is so pure and his ambition so great that when the team falls short, the disappointment is magnified. Yet he argued, as Wenger has done, that it was important to have some perspective. "The reality is that most fans love this club and think what we're trying to do is fantastic," Gazidis said. "It's easy to lose perspective on what Arsène is trying to do … which I think is an extraordinary vision … but if you look around, the fans we have around the world … that vision is very, very attractive and very, very powerful. We should be proud of that. "People should want that in the game. It's a fantastic thing for the game, I really believe that. It is one of the points of difference for Arsenal and something that drives admiration around the world. "Listen, we have to deal with some realities in the game. Domestically, the league has been dominated by Chelsea and Manchester United in recent years. They've been the biggest spenders and, although they've done a fantastic job, it's probably not a coincidence and now you see Manchester City and what they are spending and they are going to be in that bracket as well. "We have to challenge for trophies in that environment and we will. But we've got to do things differently because we don't have those kind of resources. Our approach is partly driven by vision; it's partly driven by necessary strategy."
While its good releasing a statement to the fans promising new buys, it somehow shows a little desperation from them. These are just words until they actually act and do something. At the moment buying 2 relatively unknowns: one from the french league with limited experience and the other a teenager from the first division with no experience, while selling our first teamer Cliche and having 2 of our best players potentially leaving, is not a good start at all.
This has the makings of an emergency placate the fans measure about it, im still confident one or two more may be coming to arsenal though, Arsene did say a lot would be getting done towards the end of the window anyway. I advise patience
Pfffft. B*llocks. For three seasons in a row we've been told of the money being available to spend if the right deal crops up. Blah blah blah. I'll believe it when I see it. This is the least excited I've been about a new season for literally as long as I remember. And I remember Ian Selley so that should give you some perspective! The team is considerably better than many I have seen and we play lovely stuff at times but I think my frustration is that we were so close to being there and now I see us slipping back into the pack again. Oh, and I alone in thinking Gazidis is a tool (or at the very least someone I have no faith in)?
I really had big faith in Gazidis when he took over. he extended a lot of contracts immediately, seemed shrewd about it and he has fantastic pedigree in business. he was a bit of a coup when Arsenal landed him. I'm very surprised he hasn't helped Arsenal make more of the American market with his affiliation with MLS. As time has gone on, he's shown that he may have extended several of the wrong contracts, although he hasn't let anyone go that I wish had been kept. I think he's business savy, and is still the right man for the job. I like that he's said the shortcomings have been identified & they're trying to address them - at least that means they know there are problems!!
"We have to challenge for trophies in that environment and we will. But we've got to do things differently because we don't have those kind of resources. Our approach is partly driven by vision; it's partly driven by necessary strategy." Necessity? Don't think so. Two £Multi-Billionaires own Arsenal, if they wanted to compete financially they could, they choose not to. It's down to Vision, or as we common folk prefer to call it, Profit
Living within your means is the Arsenal ethos. They won't spend outlandishly because it doesn't make good business sense. In addition, owner-backed injections contravene the new FFP rules that are coming in. Why not write them a cheque for your hard-earned cash rather than relying on others to do it?
Who'd be Gazidis eh? Slated for coming out and saying that we will buy players. Imagine the reaction if he'd said that we weren't going to add anyone?
That's not the point, it is wrong for Arsenal to say they can't compete financially, when in fact they simply choose not to. And in doing so, should shut up moaning about it.
Sorry, but you're talking bollocks. The billionaire shareholders cannot simply pump their private fortunes into the club without ending up falling foul of the FFP rules. This is going to hit teams like City and Chelsea hard. You should be applauding Arsenal's board for steering our club in the right direction, not lambasting them for resisting the spend and bust approach.
I know mate. I can understand the frustrations, I think every Gooner has them. But the amount of negativity I've already read on this thread is more depressing that our end of season collapse. Gazidis releases a really positive statement, talking about how we are going to sign more players and become an even stronger side, and yet all some people want to do is moan or whinge that we're not spending like Man City Get a ****ing grip Gooners ! Roman and the Sheik may be playing dollies with their rich Barbie toys at the moment, but as soon as the FFP rules come in, you're going to be worshiping Gazidis and Kronke for not bankrupting our club.
The Financial Fair Play Rules will be f***** right off the second UEFA want to ban anyone of substance. The Media Companies and Major Sponsors, who fund UEFA and in turn The Champions League, will simply run a mile if ANY of the likes of AC/Inter/Juve/Real/Barca/United/Liverpool/Chelsea/Arsenal/Chelsea/Citeh/Munich/Marseille/Lyon/PSG are banned. And the Clubs, who hold ALL the power, will simply do one and set up their own Competition if they don't get what they want. How do you think UEFA and FIFA came about in the first place?
I disagree. The clubs do not hold all of the power. Ultimately UEFA and FIFA hold the licences for the players and clubs to ply their trade. Without them the clubs cannot operate in any meaningful way and without them, this would be the catalyst for major sponsors pulling out. If one of the big teams were banned from the Champions League it would send out a message that you cannot simply pump endless billions into a a club to try and buy trophies. Hopefully, those teams will heed this warning before any sanctions are made. It's a sad state of football that it's come to threats of bans from the most prestigious competition to keep the greedy billionaires in check, but it's a route that I'm glad that my club has not taken
I was under the impression we've been told this before... I don't want us to try competing with the likes of City (as their methods in the market are repellent) but there's no reason why we can't strengthen our squad. As I said in my earlier post my frustrations boil down to the "so nearly" factor. Rather than improving on this team we appear to be losing two of our best players and getting nobody of note in to replace them. Is anybody good on the radar? No, yet we're being fed the same tripe that we get every year about there being money available. PS. Call me a cynic but I can't see the FFP rules affecting anyone - at least not soon. PPS. As depressing things go, our end of year collapse was... quite depressing.
It has ALWAYS been the case that the more successful Football Clubs have been backed by wealthy Owners. They might be Billionaires instead of Millionaires, and Energy Barons rather than Butchers/Bakers/Candlestick Makers, but the same rules apply. And Arsenal are no different, they have been bankrolled beyond economic reality before, and really there is no problem with that. UEFA are at the mercy of the biggest Clubs, The Champions League was formed to keep the old G14 happy, the next step would inevitably be to remove themselves should they feel UEFA isn't looking after their best interests.
Your assessment of our club's financing and the ability for the top clubs to operate without UEFA is fanciful to say the least
Man Utd. will welcome the FFP rules - they have a huge stadium and don't operate outside their means, they are a global brand and generate huge revenues. Barca are working hard to cut their debt - cutting down on colour photocopying even to save cash! They won't offer too much for Cesc, and this is in line with their new "policy" to be compliant. I've no idea about Real Madrid, but Spurs live within their means - and you can bet the German and French clubs do as well. The FFP rules will be welcomed around Europe by everyone except a select few clubs who are bankrolled - Man City, Chelsea, perhaps Real Madrid. They can form their own 3-team super-league if they want, but everyone else seems pretty happy to comply as it gives a more even playing field. The owners in particular will be happier, as it means it'll cost them far less money to compete!
