QUOTE(giotto @ Feb 26 2010, 11:34 PM)
Yes, not many fans see Arsenal as a business unit, altho of coz the existence of Arsenal is still very much as a football club. Fact is, the new stadium made us a couple of hundred million poorer, but its important to have a new stadium if we want to compete with the best in the next 10 years or so.
Regarding the news that we managed to reduced the debts from 300 Million to 200 Million shows how strong our finances are and within the next 5 years, it would be even stronger and once we reduce our debts to a small figure, we'd be able to spend more on players and on development of younger players. Not many sees Arsenal from this point and most just look at news from websites that says Arsenal have money and therefore they should buy players.
Yes, there's money to be spent but AW looks at Arsenal as a business unit and not entirely as football club and this ensures our survival in the near future. If AW is just any other manager, he would have kept buying when we need players since there's money available. Afterall, he's only answerable to the football performance and nothing else. But no, thank God AW looks to the future and to ensure our survival, he invest carefully on players and looks to our youth. Can you guys imagine if we kept buying players and if for whatever reason we failed to qualify for UCL, we would have ended up like Leeds and now Portsmouth. End up selling their best players, sacking various managers and having to pay them compensation and getting lawsuits and etc. I cant help but feel for Pompey, FA Cup winners 2 years ago and they were looking pretty strong few years back. Now they're doomed to 2nd division and looking like they're gonna sell much more players and facing a meltdown like Leeds.
So guys, be thankful. We may not be winning but at least we're not facing a meltdown with the new stadium and so on.
I agree.I dread to even think Arsenal facing a meltdown like Pompey.Since I am in Portsmouth now, I can understand the nerve wrecking feeling of the buildup to their administration due to constant report/update of the local media.Now they became from FA Cup winners to 'case study' for 'how to destroy a club'..I am thankful for Arsenal being financially stable,but me being greedier than Cashley and Greedybayor,I want financial stability and the trophies
As for Arsenal in terms of football , Arsenal nowadays always give me the impression of 'almost but not there yet' feeling and I hope our lads will prove me wrong.I know we had been unlucky for times but having gone 4 seasons straight without trophies would create some doubters and I certainly wouldnt call it unlucky. Having said that I would like to eat an 'Arsenal flavour' humble pie this season

Sure it would be delicious..
This post has been edited by kanelee: Feb 27 2010, 01:45 AM