14 (?) years straight qualification for Champions League? Just about the only success they have had for about 10 years now.
How is that bad? I'd love it if we qualified for 16 years in a row (its 16, not 14). That is a huge achievement and no other club has done it. They have also paid off the stadium already which is a fantastic achievement and is a direct result of how the club is run. In fact, one of my favourite teams to watch (away from leeds obviously) was Wenger's unbeatables. Arsene Wenger himself may have lost his touch somewhat over the last 4 or 5 years but the way the club is run is one of the best in the world. A great aspiration for any club. I never want to see our club buy their success just because they get a mega rich owner (which will probably never happen anyway).
Broadly agree with you Josh Though I do wonder a bit if Wenger likes the excuse it gives him. When the team is consistently top 4, you have to wonder why he could never win anything, not even a Cup. But I agree Arsenal managing to play at the highest level without being stupid in the transfer market is an achievement. And personally, if my club was obtaining success by buying a host of £50m-plus prima donnas who have absolutely no interest in the real club they play for, it would disturb me. Fortunately, we have been - and still are - very well protected from such a terrible fate
It is all about opinion. I think that Arsenal is very well run. Others do not consider this a success.
Arsenal are the ultimate example of how a football club should be run in my opinion. The fact that they have built their own high revenue stadium and now nearly paid for it, while balancing a playing squad which has still maintained champions league qualification throughout is a testament to how well they are run. They are now about to spend big and I don't think silverware is now far away from them.
