The British Core

City don't have the same turnover as United and their chairman subsidised their fans for their game against us. In relation to the previous comment Spanish players are evidently better than their British counterparts and even that doesn't guarantee anything. It could be argued Vieira, Henry etc stayed as we were successful on the pitch whereas in the era of Fabregas/RVP leaving we were not which is a plausible reason for the difference in loyalty shown.

City don't have the same turnover as United and their chairman subsidised their fans for their game against us.
------------------------

The reason why this doesn't happen and in fact cannot happen is because Arsenal is owed by two competing parties. Not one owner. Of course the positive of that is that neither can exert any undue influence on the board. That allows the club to remain largely independent. I am sure Kroenke meddles but not to the same level as the Glazers or the Man City owners.


It could be argued Vieira, Henry etc stayed as we were successful on the pitch whereas in the era of Fabregas/RVP leaving we were not which is a plausible reason for the difference in loyalty shown.
---------------------------
As much as the manager has an affect on the team its the players who actually win things. They are the ones that take the field not Wenger. So the players leave because they don't win things? Contradiction in terms.

The fact is that if they had stayed we could have built a team around them that could actually win. They left for more money. All the rest is for fans PR. Now it suited Arsenal that they did leave because Wenger was required to make a £15m profit in his transfer dealings till a couple of years ago after the property market went pop in 2008. Thats why it was important that Theo Walcott signed a new contract eventhough he was being offered more money by Man City and Chelsea.

Good points Jenius. Having that core and team spirit gives the team something you can't buy, especially local or academy players. Even Szczesny has that bond with the club when he was here from so young

The fact is if they stayed long enough for Wenger to build a team capable of challenging, unfortunately he didn't and they left.

comment by Godleebarnes (U9902)
posted 13 hours, 3 minutes ago
The fact is if they stayed long enough for Wenger to build a team capable of challenging, unfortunately he didn't and they left.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Unfortunately they left as soon as their profile improved so they could command more wages.

RVP - The season after he became premier league top scorer for the first time and running down his contract.

Cesc - After he made the goal that won the world cup.

Nasri, Adebayor - After their first good seasons at Arsenal. Nasri also ran down his contract.

Sagna, Clichy - Ran down their contracts.

Cesc gave Wenger another a season (it may of been two) to improve the players around him, he didn't and any footballer with ambition would of left to join one of the best teams ever. RVP was here about 10 years and I genuinely believe he would of stayed if Wenger matched his ambition not too mention the fact that he turned City who were offering 100k more according you which would suggest it wasn't about money. Clichy who cares, as for Sagna he probably would of stayed if Wenger shown him the same loyalty he expects from players which he didn't which suppose is understandable given his recent injury record.

Robin van Persie was being offered £300k a week by Man City and according to Wenger Man Utd offered him £200k a week. Mesut Ozil is our highest earner rumoured to be on c£140k a week. So we wouldn't have been close.

Cesc gave us a season? Not sure what you mean. Cesc was a contracted Arsenal player. On 5 more years apparently but wanted to play for Barca his home team. Barca wanted him because his profile hit roof after the world cup and they couldn't stand a Catalan being successful elsewhere.

This goes back to my original point, that in the modern game, a domestic core is important to achieve long term growth and success.

So RVP was willing to accept 100k less but its still about okay . Cesc wanted to leave the year before and if a player really wants to leave its so much easier to let them providing you get a decent offer. His Catalan roots didn't help much when they wanted to sell him in the summer.

So RVP was willing to accept 100k less but its still about
---------------------
Well yes, because RVP obviously wanted a new contract after he finished his initial one. Mancini was living on borrowed time and RVP had a lot more competition at City. Any agent worth his salt would have told his client that although RVP would have had a nice 2 years on £300k, its worth less than £200k for the next 5 years - thats the ridiculous deal he got at Utd!

You always have the danger of foreign players leaving because they don't have any link to the country or the club. Thats was one of my points on why a domestic core is very important for success in ffp age.

Players leave for money and success because they're both linked... the best teams buy the best players and pay them the most. Cesc was the exception though because he took a pay cut and only wanted to go to Barca. Sometimes players just want to change clubs as well, like some people want to stay in the same job for life and others want to try something new. A lot of the players we sold were with us for about 8 years which is about half a footballers career.