One of the Arsenal board members demonstrated the effect paying Wayne Rooney’s wages would have on the club.
Good evening everyone.
Ordinarily, I don’t care to publish words other than my own. I can be a picky so-and-so. Today, I thought I’d change that and bring you a guest post written by Andre Smith:
With rumours going around of a transfer budget close to £100 million, Arsenal fans have every right to be excited for the 2013/14 season. The fact they have not won anything in 8 years has every fan of the north London club biting at the bit to start the new season, as they are eager to end the trophy drought.
The Gunners last success came in 2005, when they won the FA Cup, but since then they have fell down the English Premier League pecking order due to substantial funding that Chelsea and Manchester City have received after being taken over in the past few years.
Arsenal are looking likely to compete for the league title again with Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis all but confirming the club’s summer budget. After Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger announced he is in the market for a world-class striker, Gazidis told BBC Sport:
“Of course we could do that. We could do more than that.”
Finally with financial backing, Wenger can move forward and look to spend in the transfer market. After the sales of Van Perise, Fabregas and Nasri over the last few years it finally looks as if the money can be re-invested into strengthening the squad. Gazidis also told the BBC:
“This year we are beginning to see something we have been planning for some time – the escalation in our financial firepower.”
Gazidis also went on to say:
“We have a certain amount of money which we have held in reserve.”
Further financial stability has been added to the club after they signed a multi-million pound contract extension with kit sponsors Emirates. The deal is expected to last until the 2018/19 and be worth around £150 million.
Gooners fans are certainly getting excited with transfer rumours circling about the club lining up bids for United’s Wayne Rooney and Gonzalo Higuain of Real Madrid. Arsene Wenger is on the look out for a striker to fill the void left by Holland international Robin Van Persie. The Frenchman signed Olivier Giroud to score the goals, but with only 11 goals last season he has failed to live up to his hefty price tag.
The potential signing of Ashley Williams could add a commanding presence to the back four, which they have lacked since the likes of Sol Campbell. They will certainly need to improve their defence if they are to stand a chance of competing for the title.
Arsenal fans will also be happy that for the first time in a couple of years none of the current squad are set to be sniped away by other clubs, in the last few years Arsenal have lost their best players to so called bigger clubs. Van Persie’s transfer to United was one that could have possibly been avoided if the club had not let his contract run into its final year. But with no players entering their final year, the club can solely concentrate on bringing new players to the club.
This season also sees Arsene Wenger enter his final year of his contract; fans will want to see 63-year-old sign a new contract quickly. When questioned on the manager’s future, Gazidis told BBC Sport:
“We have got a fantastic manager. I think we will make an announcement on a new deal when things are put in place.”
Arsenal are 4th favourites to win the 2013/14 campaign, their odds are 10/1 to lift the Premier League trophy come the end of the season, live football in 2013 at The Emirates will be something to behold. No matter what happens things are looking up for the Gunners, could the hunt for a trophy be coming to an end?
