The Starting Line-up: Ivan Gazidis said on Thursday that Arsenal can “cope” and “compete” without participation in the UEFA Champions League. Aaron Ramsey finds relief in playing for Wales after the poor start to his Arsenal season. Robin van Persie said that he is unsure of his future (again).
Let’s start with the chief executive of our football club. Ivan Gazidis spoke at a football conference, and he said that Arsenal will be fine without the money generated from the Champions League (from ESPN):
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis
“We would rather qualify for it but we have a really sustainable model that can cope without it. Not just cope, but we can do well and compete. It would be very foolish to build a business model that relied on being in the Champions League for perpetuity and I don’t think any clubs do that and, if they do, then they probably aren’t being run as responsibly as they should be.”
You have to be an extremely positive Gooner to believe that we will finish in the top four this season. Obviously, Arsenal’s budget does not need that £26 million (amount Arsenal made from the UCL last season) to run the club. But the Champions League is symbolic to players and supporters. Top players want to play in the competition, and supporters know their club is at an elite level when they watch them on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Gazidis went on: “Every club has the temptation to think that money is the answer to issues and if we only spend just a little bit more, it would push us over the top of a curve’ and that is what drives the cycle of spending that you see in the game and that is not by any means always what is successful, actually.
“It is tempting to think that it is. It relieves pressure for a while but actually builds long-term pressure in other ways. We will continue to act with discipline to make sure we have got a good short-term and long-term future.”
In case you have not heard Ivan, the short-term future for Arsenal is not looking too bright. We sit at 15th in the table, and our manager has already conceded that we are not title contenders this season. Long-term, especially if Financial Fair Play works as planned, looks fantastic. The question will be whether the Gunners can revive themselves and the reputation of the club, because the football-power slope is slippery.
Aaron Ramsey feels more pressure at Arsenal than he does playing for his country. He is the Wales captain, but he said that the Gunners’ poor start has made life at the Emirates frustrating (from ESPN):
“It’s been a difficult time for my club. It’s been quite frustrating so far with the performances we’ve shown in the last few games. But hopefully that can turn around pretty quickly.”
“Absolutely (it is easier to play for Wales). Arsenal, at the moment, are under a lot of pressure and we haven’t produced the results that we know we are capable of doing; everybody is surprised by that.”
To me, this is an obvious answer. At the international level, you feel the pressure, pride, and passion of your fellow countrymen. No disrespect for Welsh Gooners, but they were never expected to qualify for Euro 2012. At Arsenal, the expectation is success, and, when success is nonexistent, there will be more criticism to go around.
Robin van Persie, when asked about his future, said he does not know if he will remain at the Emirates Stadium (quotes obtained from ESPN): “I do not know [what I will do], I cannot predict the future. Everybody makes his own history and only afterwards can you see how that went.”
Regarding a possible move to Manchester City, van Persie said: “I do not know. For one thing, as an indication, when I came to Arsenal we immediately beat City. But in recent years much has happened in England.
“Nevertheless, I think the Premier League is still the best league in the world, it gives me everything I want.”
These comments make me sick to my stomach. The Dutchman has refused to deny the rumours, and he even acknowledged the rise of City. Robin is determined to play in the Premier League, but I doubt that he will be at Arsenal too much longer.
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