There is a banner unfurled at every Arsenal match that reads “Arsene knows”.
As a tribute to the judgment of one of the greatest managers of his
generation, it is perfect, a simple, reassuring mantra designed to keep at
bay the kneejerk reactions that characterise an era of impatience.
In recent weeks, some of the knowledge that Arsène Wenger has imparted has
been frightening. Recently, he was quoted as saying that Arsenal’s strategy
is “to sell every year and to buy less expensive players . . . while having
to free up, for 17 more years, an annual surplus of £24 million to pay for
the stadium”. Depending on your view, this was either an affirmation of what
was apparent or a shocking exposé of the financial constraints under which
he is working. Either way, in a summer when Mathieu Flamini, Gilberto Silva
and Alexander Hleb have left, with Emmanuel Adebayor possibly to follow, it
will have sent a shiver down the spine of many an Arsenal supporter.
What is the point of Arsenal? The question sounds flippant, but to judge from
some of the noises coming out of the Emirates Stadium this summer, the
club’s raison d’être is no longer clear. They left
Highbury partly to accommodate a growing support, but above all, according
to David Dein, the former vice-chairman, “to compete financially with
Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid”.
Deloitte’s latest world football rich list has them in an impressive fifth
place, with their revenues having increased by 37 per cent since leaving
Highbury in 2006, and their next set of figures is likely to illustrate a
further improvement. But to what end? If the goal is a healthy balance
sheet, perfect. If it is success on the pitch, then it is a business plan
that requires Wenger to perform miracles that may be beyond even his powers.
As a football business, Arsenal are brilliantly run, a model for others to
aspire to, but for their strategy to succeed on the pitch, Wenger, to borrow
a phrase from Rafael BenÍtez, the Liverpool manager, has to be perfect.
While he may enjoy operating with one hand behind his back, which allows him
to indulge in the developing and nurturing of technically talented young
players, he is also a fearsome competitor who bristles at his team’s failure
to win a trophy since 2005. Last season, having sold Thierry Henry to
Barcelona, they challenged for the Barclays Premier League, finishing only
four points behind Manchester United, the winners, and the Champions League,
in which they lost to Liverpool in the quarter-finals, but it was a story of
falling short when it mattered.
Next season is unlikely to be any easier. Like Sir Alex Ferguson, the United
manager, Wenger has a knack of choosing the right moment to sell players (as
with Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Patrick Vieira, Henry and countless
others), but this is not the time that he would have chosen to lose Flamini,
24, Hleb, 27, and possibly Adebayor, 24. Flamini and Hleb would have stayed
had they been offered the kind of wages that they will receive at AC Milan
and Barcelona respectively. Wenger agrees with Arsenal’s stance on wages, a
stance that is admirable in just about every respect, but while Arsenal may
believe that they cannot afford to pay players sums in the region of
£100,000 a week, it is reaching the stage when it may be more pertinent to
ask whether they can afford not to.
Samir Nasri, the talented young France midfield player, has joined from
Marseilles, but Wenger has suggested that further additions would “kill” the
youngsters who are at the club. The Arsenal production line is remarkable,
with Fran Mérida and Carlos Vela likely to break into the first-team squad
this season after spells on loan to Real Sociedad and Osasuna respectively,
while Cesc Fàbregas, Theo Walcott and others aim to build on the progress
they have made. But when they develop into world-class players, will Arsenal
be willing to pay what is needed to get the most out of them or will they
sell them on, replacing them with inexpensive, if supremely talented,
youngsters? The experiences of Flamini, Hleb and possibly Adebayor suggest
that Fàbregas, for example, may have to move if he is to optimise his
earning capacity, as all players like to do at some stage.
This was not meant to happen. Peter Hill-Wood, the Arsenal chairman, said
before the stadium move that there was “no danger of a lack of money for
players”, while Danny Fiszman, a director, said that “Arsène’s budget will
not be affected in any way by this project”. But Wenger’s budget has been
affected, dramatically, and it is testament to his genius that he continues
to produce teams who can challenge for the leading honours. There is quite a
difference, though, between challenging for trophies and winning them. And
deep down, you suspect that Wenger knows that.
A fair assessment?
For those who are still wondering what Manchester City did to earn the right
to a Uefa Cup qualifying tie against EB/Streymur, it is to do with English
football’s fair-play record in European competition and City’s fair-play
record within the Barclays Premier League. Points in five criteria are
awarded on a match-by-match basis by Premier League delegates and last
season’s table throws up some interesting findings.
Arsenal are in first place for positive play and Derby County and Sunderland
are joint last; Sunderland are first for behaviour of officials (take a bow,
Roy Keane) and Blackburn Rovers are last; in terms of respect towards
opponents, Tottenham Hotspur are first and Middlesbrough are last; and for
respect towards referees, Fulham and Manchester City are joint first and
Chelsea last.
Can Luiz Felipe Scolari remove the snarling face of Chelsea? It may be his
greatest challenge.
Green with envy
Is it possible to sympathise with a middling goalkeeper who earns £28,000 a
week? When it is Robert Green at West Ham United, yes. Green had the
misfortune to join West Ham in the summer of 2006, rather than the next
year, when the East London club’s new board was making Lucas Neill, Fredrik
Ljungberg, Scott Parker, Kieron Dyer and Craig Bellamy some of the Barclays
Premier League’s biggest earners. None performed as impressively as Green
last season, but the board feels that a sixth wrong would not make a right.
Wrong impression
A Sven-Göran Eriksson impersonator has been causing havoc in Mexico, where the
Swede has taken over as coach of the national team. Could that same
impersonator be behind the slumps that accompanied the end of his spells in
charge of England and Manchester City?
The quality of Mersey
Last week another “breakaway” club, AFC Liverpool, were born and they will
start the new season in the Vodkat League first division, only nine
promotions off the Barclays Premier League and three divisions below FC
United of Manchester, who, having won promotion in each of their first three
seasons, are, in theory, three years away from the Football League.
The contrast is that, whereas FC United have met with hostility from Sir Alex
Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, and just about everyone else at Old
Trafford, with United falling out with the Manchester Evening News
over the space devoted to the “rebel club”, AFC Liverpool, run along similar
lines by disenfranchised supporters, have been welcomed into existence by
Liverpool, who are even running features on their “little brother” on their
website.
To paraphrase, Lyndon Johnson, the former US President, it is surely far
better to have them inside the tent, p***ing out, than outside the tent,
p***ing in.
Left wrong-footed
When José Bosingwa, the new Chelsea right back, cited Morten Gamst Pedersen as
his most feared opponent in English football, it called to mind the
interview in which Tony Blair picked out Steed Malbranque and Arjan de Zeeuw
as two of his favourite Premier League players. More than that, though, it
not only proved that full backs do not like facing orthodox wingers, but
that there is also a dearth of top-class left-sided players in the Barclays
Premier League.
Of the most prominent left wingers in the Premier League, Cristiano Ronaldo,
Nani, Joe Cole and Ryan Babel are primarily right-footed, as is Alexander
Hleb, who has left Arsenal to play for Barcelona. A genuine left winger in
full flow is a rare sight these days, so what price a fit Damien Duff, who
scored a hat-trick for Newcastle United in a preseason friendly match
against Hartlepool United on Saturday?
Ronaldo misses a trick
Shock of the week: that Cristiano Ronaldo failed to appear last week at Vale
do Lobo, on the Algarve, where Real Madrid were holding their preseason
training camp. Someone missed a trick there.
Maybe Ronaldo’s nonappearance was a sign that Sir Alex Ferguson had finally
got through to the player, but the Manchester United manager’s quotes about
their meeting in Lisbon hardly concealed the Portugal forward’s continuing
desire to leave Old Trafford for Madrid. If, as it seems, Ronaldo is
persuaded or indeed forced to stay, it is only likely to be for one more
season.
Will from Grimsby, you should not let your dislike for Arsenal cloud your judgement.
Once the team that plays the finest football around is allowed to sell their TV-rights exclusively, you and a lot of others will be very suprised who will be left miles behind...
Ilja, Sliema, Malta
I wonder which team, if at all any team in the world, has a brand. The one team I can think about having a brand without spending a penny is Brazil. I wonder why?
Presh Mulay, Bath, Avon
The plan is pretty clear. People just need to be patient. I'd rather have a solid basis before spending like crazy instead of doing a Leeds.
Wenger could do like Benitez and moan about the apparent lack of money. He chose to keep his mouth shut and work with what's available.
Stephane, NYC,
I admire Arsenal for not selling out to foreigners.
What's the point of Tottenham 'we'll be one of the big four soon honest' Hotspurs?
Stuart, Manchester, England
but they wont have gone under will they, i dont know about pompey, but tottenham and manu are profitable, while chelsea are secure under their owner. what will happen when clubs are allowed to sell the foreign tv rights individually? arsenal will be miles behind. n thats before merchandise.
will, grimsby, uk
On the contrary Will from Grimsby, what could happen is there will be no ManU Tottenham pompey and chelsea to have foreign brands, they will have gone under like Leeds
Kasper Sporansky, Keynsham, Bristol
as much as arsenal love arsene, i think in the long term he is taking them backwards. the big and average clubs in the prem like manu chelsea tottenham and pompey are building foreign brands. Arsenal arent. their new stadium will soon be countered by lack of foregn revenue.
GOOD!
will, grimsby, uk
Why do people keep 'banging on' about Wenger's great transfer dealings?Sold Anelka, Petite & Overmars between 1998-2000 and didn't win the league title for 3 seasons or compete in Europe. Sold Viera and Henry over the last 3 years and won nothing!How many back 2 back titles under Wenger? None, why??
Simon, Manchester,
Some strange ideas. Hanson said you can't do it with kids.Man U are still doing it with old men-Giggs,Scholes,Van De Saar. It is the knack as you have that counts. Back to reality Arsenal should win every 20 years,1 in 4 is exceptional and unless something is done to even things this league will die
ged, manchester,
Time for the media to support Arsenal in trying to bring some sanity back into Players Wages.OK its nice to reach finals but I suspect the Gunners fans enjoyed their football more than their Chelsea counterparts.
Whatever happened to the conveyor belt of talent out of Man U?
Bob Greenaway, Tamarin, Mauritius
Why not just auction off the Premiership title to the highest bidder? It would save all the fuss and frustration of 380 football matches and the TV companies would have lots of money to spend on something worth watching.
Frank Upton, Solihull,
it is not always about money! I watched the Barnet game and saw players like Wiltshire, Simpson, Barazite, Nortdviet, Randall all amazing talents from the youth squad you add the likes Vela, Walcott, Fabergas Nasri, Clichy , Sagna to that who are all under the age of 23 then the future is good!
Nemwy, Chester, UK
What I want to know is what club really has money?
That is the question you really have to ask. ManU, Liverpool and Chelsea are all in debt. 2 years since the move to the Emirate and we are doing well. I as a fan am glad the club is sticking to a wage structure. Not terribly exciting for the media
william, london,
Just shows how superior he is to Ferguson who has an open cheque book.
George Townsend, Elk Grove, CA USA
Arsenal earned respect when they sold Henry,and Viera even from me. As for Man U they played without a striker and a replacement for Keane and still won. Baffling innit?. You should be asking what is wrong with the rest outside the top 4.You see a bit of promise then-pfft.Like Man city.
ged, manchester,
Arsenal appears to be a club run under a NFL-style salary cap system yet no salary cap system exists. I think Arsenal can lose one or two top players and have the resultant talent gap filled from within; however, I do not think Arsenal can become a dominant team but only win the occasional troph
Marco A., Atlanta, USA
It suits Wenger to hide behind the current situation at Arsenal, then when they don't win anything he can point to the fact that he doesn't have the money to spend on big players etc. etc. He has done this for the past three seasons and it's getting a bit tiresome now.
John, Oslo, Norway
Isn't this a bit 'last week' ? A few remarks that Wenger is alleged to have made about cash - reported in the News of the World
Clearly Wenger is exactly the sort of chap who would have a heart to heart with the NoTW given his high regard for the respected journal
Bruno, Cumnock, UK
The credit crisis should have no impact on Arsenal, as 18 months ago they sold £200m of debts (out of £260m) as a 20-year bond at a fixed 4% a year. Wish I could say the same about my mortgage....
mjc, Stevenage, UK
Chelsea lost two finals despite spending obscene amounts of money but that is ok as they produce headlines.
And Arsenal buliding something up and taking a stand against this madness have a problem? There'll come a time when the big bucks suddenly disappear, guess who will be left standing then...
Ilja, Sliema, Malta
What I don't understand is where it is all going. The debt can be serviced each year just by match day revenues.Foreign clubs largely don't even own their stadiums yet spend wildly. Arsenal should comfortably pay their premiums each year and Wenger has profited in transfers,so why is the club skint?
Tony, Enfield,
Man United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea are running their football clubs with no regard to financial contraints or limits. They don't develop players they just spend 50 million every year. Arsenal are getting better every year without doing the same. Write them off next year at your peril.
Demetri, London, U.K.
The problem with the premise of this article, namely that Arsenal operate on a tight budget, is that it is not true. According to the Deloitte football survey, Arsenal’s wage bill is the 3rd highest in the premier league at £90m (vs United on £92m). This is £10m more than Liverpool and double Spurs.
stuart, london, uk
just the small matter of the £400 mill debt that they incurred when they moved from highbury to ashburton grove.
but i do agree with this article. in essence, wenger is a property developer with an eye for a bargain. and wenger complains about clubs losing focus when it becomes about the money?
Jamie, London, UK
sorry but i have to say to all those arsenal fans who are patting themselves on the back after 2 top players leaving (+ade):
another trophyless season is not a reason to get rid of those guys, especially when they've just come to the forefront of the team. wenger didn't want to lose them.
Bill, Exeter, England
Wenger needs to change - Arsenal have played pretty but ineffective football recently. They need to pay the money it takes to keep big players at the club, the players who win things. I'm tired of hearing Wenger saying he has no money, or how another young player has 'come on so well'.
paul, Chiang Mai , Thailand
I am a little confused about Arsenal's finances. Wenger has probably made profit in his transfer dealings during his time at the club when smaller clubs have spent fortunes.The stadium almost doubles match day revenues, and has a lucrative sponsorship deal with Fly Emirates. Where is all the £going?
Tony, Enfield, United Kingdom
GAZ. spot on. These players can leave, Arsenal will pay when they need to, players like Henry you pay, but not the others, id rather see another youngster come in, at the end of the day they all fell short last season anyway!!
C Kroustis, London, UK
Interesting article but I'm disappointed by the misinformed Green part, considering his contract details were released by West Ham. He signed a five year deal last summer - after Neill and co arrived on big wages - and was granted a review clause for next summer, so how can he complain a year in?
Mick, East London,
I dont think we should blame those players. Footballers' career don't last long. Some of them will only be ale to achieve about 5 years of peak time football if they are lucky. So if they want to go and earn big bucks; good luck to them. Everything happen for a reason. I believe Wenger still knows!!
Toyin, Slough , UK
Look Oliver there is one thing you got to remember, not every one is in it for the money. Once you get this out of your mind things get a bit more clear. This generation is all about Katie Price's Boobs, not Stepehn Hawkings intelligence, its all about Boozing, not the quintessential healthy life.
Presh, Bath, Avon
Typical lack of insight. Henry earned big bucks.....when he'd EARNED them. Flamini is a good player, but great he ain't. Hleb is outrageously talented, but largely ineffective. Adebayor is potentially world class, but still has a lot to learn.
Mr Wenger has plans.; Trust him.
gaz, london,
Why, in your list of great left wingers, do you fail to mention Ashley Young, who was second only to Fabregas in number of assists last season with 17? No other left winger comes anywhere near this figure.
Paul Miles, Taiz, Yemen
I think Josh probably has a point, Wenger is known to despise the money in football, to the point of not wanting to spend it. The board have come out a couple of times over the last two seasons and stated he has money available. Perhaps the credit crisis has put them in trouble, who knows.
Tim Harrington, London, England
Wenger was right not to offer Flamini the kind of money that Milan offered. Despite what some in the press may think, Flamini is an average midfielder who has had just one good year at the position , as has Adebayor. Arsenal may need to spend more to win but not the sums demanded by these two.
Prophet, Oslo, Norway
Great article thanks. However don't you think Wenger might just be pretending to be poorer than he is, so he might be able to pull of a few bargins. Just a thought, what do you think?
josh dickson, preston, uk