Owner
Stanley Kroenke, or silent Stan is a business man who puts profits before sporting achievements to a fault. He shows no interest in Arsenal's success other than when it affects him financially. Ironically, his lack of investment is having a direct impact on his profits. Last summer's transfer budget of £70m was laughable. We are rumoured to have another derisory budget this summer of just £45m which could rise depending on other factors such as winning the Europa League cup and qualifying for next season's Champion's League. However, this amount will still fall far short of an estimated £150m - £200m that Arsenal needs to become competitive.
Unai Emery
Unai Emery inherited an Arsene Wenger team that had failed in previous seasons and was given the remit of galvanising the team to achieve the minimum requirement of Champion's qualification in his first season. His budget of £70m has proved to be a huge restraint on his ability to field a team in his own imaged. But one has to ask, after nearly a season of Unai being in charge, what is his own image? Initially he seemed like he was going to be a "no nonsense" manager who was confident enough in his thoughts to drop Ozil and to withdraw a contract offer to retain Aaron Ramsey. On the park, at the beginning of the season, one would have believed due to the setup and performances that Unai Emery's identiy was high pressing, playing out from the back and intricate passing. However, as the season has worn on, it has been difficult to lay an identity to Unai's footballing philosophy due to his constant tinkering. Unai has been guilty of changing the formation constantly, poor in-game management decisions regarding substitutions and failing to improve the mental fortitude of the team.
Sven Mislintat
One of the first casualties of the Unai Emery era has been that of the former head of recruitment Sven Mislintat. Sven's brief appointment at Arsenal has over seen the signings of promising players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Lucas Torreira, Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Mattéo Guendouziand and disappointing players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Stephan Lichtsteiner. IMO, with the tight budget that Sven had he did a good job. Lille's Nicolas Pepe was identified early on as one of his targets, however Sven was not supported in making this potential signing a reality. Now Pepe is worth twice the amount that we were considering buying him for proving that he did not earn the nick name "Diamond Eyes" for nothing. Mislintat leaving has left a void at Arsenal that is yet to be filled. The last player to come into Arsenal was of course Denis Suarez from Barcelona. Suarez has been an unmitigated flop, only ever featuring as a sub for a sum total of 90mins before becoming injured and returning to Barcelona. Worryingly, I would attribute Suarez loan signing to Unai Emery as these two had a history when Emery managed Sevilla.
Steve Bould
Or to use his official title "First Team Defensive Coach"…. is the glue that links the shambolic defence of the Wenger era to shambolic defence that now plagues the Emery era. I honestly do not know what this guy does. All I know is he is never held accountable by fans for our shambolic defensive displays. IMO, Steve Bould has been nicking a living for far too long…. and it's got to stop.
The Players
In general there seems to be a malaise that runs through the squad, a complacency if you will that should be furtherest from the mind of a serial winner. The lack of hunger and desire is apparent and costs the club points. But should we be surprised when majority of our signings are on bloated wages when they in turn behave like mercenaries…. biting the very fingers that feed them?
The Fan Base
All things considered, I think the fan base is trying to be patient. However, because things do not look like they are going to change (because of the endemic problems that I have already stated), the fan base's patience is wearing thin quickly. What we have brewing here ladies and gentlemen is the perfect storm.
The Problems At Arsenal R Many And Worrying
posted on 6/5/19
Stan is pure cancer, as a person more than anything - he is a symbol of everything that is wrong with western society and economics in particular.
posted on 6/5/19
I'm hardly a Kroenke fan, but I fail to see how our recruiters would do any better with a bigger transfer war chest. I admit we haven't exactly spent 'Man City' money in recent years, but what do we really have to show for almost half a billion quid spent?
posted on 6/5/19
comment by Gillespie Road. (U18361)
posted 4 minutes ago
I'm hardly a Kroenke fan, but I fail to see how our recruiters would do any better with a bigger transfer war chest. I admit we haven't exactly spent 'Man City' money in recent years, but what do we really have to show for almost half a billion quid spent?
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Auba, Lacazette, Toreira, Leno and Socratis are all decent enough - there has been some money well spent.
I personally don't blame Stan for not giving enough money but he is nothing but a cant with no interest in the club other than using it for leverage and money.
An owner like that rips the soul out of a club.
posted on 6/5/19
bould has got the best job in football
sits on the bench looking glum and chewing gum
cushy job
posted on 6/5/19
comment by Scruttocks (U19684)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Gillespie Road. (U18361)
posted 4 minutes ago
I'm hardly a Kroenke fan, but I fail to see how our recruiters would do any better with a bigger transfer war chest. I admit we haven't exactly spent 'Man City' money in recent years, but what do we really have to show for almost half a billion quid spent?
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Auba, Lacazette, Toreira, Leno and Socratis are all decent enough - there has been some money well spent.
I personally don't blame Stan for not giving enough money but he is nothing but a cant with no interest in the club other than using it for leverage and money.
An owner like that rips the soul out of a club.
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Kroenke's always preferred to be a shareholder rather than an owner. All the financial upside without any of the responsibility. Just sit back and watch the share price go up, and award yourself a yearly stipend when no one's looking.
He wasn't even particularly keen on mopping up the remaining shares once he had a majority.
posted on 6/5/19
I think this is a good analysis of the situation at Arsenal. The problem is that Stan is leaving the running of the club to Arsenal staff and has no feeling for the club, I mean by that, he is not a supporter and doesn't experience the highs and lows of a true football fan. To him this is just a business. I recommend the article today by Andrew at Arseblog which more or less sums things up in regard to Kroenke. The depressing thing is, the owner will only invest the excess Capital that is generated. Fine for a business but not for an ambitious Football club. What that means is that we shall decline into a mid table club and Kroenke won't care. Only Man Utd have the resources to invest from profits.
There are questions to be asked about Arsenal's commercial department dept., but their job is made more difficult without more footballing success. You could argue that Spurs are doing OK without investment in the team, but in their case, I feel they are going through a golden period with the players they have. I understand Levy is looking for a buyer and if he finds an individual who is willing to dig deep, a true football fan with ambition for the club (unlike Kroenke), they will leave us far behind.
As for Steve Bould, as a defensive coach he has failed. I have just read Tony Adams' latest book "Sober" and I am impressed by his defensive analysis as a coach. He was not a success as a Manager, but as a coach he could be a worthwhile addition to Arsenal. Judgement on Emery will have to wait till next Season, but the team's current form is a mystery and Emery must take responsibility for this dismal patch. If he is not given he funds to strengthen the defence, plus a world class replacement for Ramsey in his position, I wouldn't blame him if he resigned.
posted on 6/5/19
Our commercial arm is as old fashioned as it gets.
In a world where more progressive clubs are moving heaven and earth to "monetize" their product (hate that word), we've stubbornly stuck to our golden ratio.
50% - TV money.
25% - Run of the mill sponsorships.
25% - Match day income. Tickets, beer and pies basically. An area of limited growth, given the nominal price freeze over the past 4 seasons or so.
Having said that, I was impressed to see them get Adidas to buy out the outdated long-term Puma deal for a more lucrative, shorter and thus much more negotiable deal.
Time to get more imaginative.
posted on 6/5/19
Good article.
posted on 6/5/19
comment by (U8764)
posted 32 minutes ago
I think this is a good analysis of the situation at Arsenal. The problem is that Stan is leaving the running of the club to Arsenal staff and has no feeling for the club, I mean by that, he is not a supporter and doesn't experience the highs and lows of a true football fan. To him this is just a business. I recommend the article today by Andrew at Arseblog which more or less sums things up in regard to Kroenke. The depressing thing is, the owner will only invest the excess Capital that is generated. Fine for a business but not for an ambitious Football club. What that means is that we shall decline into a mid table club and Kroenke won't care. Only Man Utd have the resources to invest from profits.
There are questions to be asked about Arsenal's commercial department dept., but their job is made more difficult without more footballing success. You could argue that Spurs are doing OK without investment in the team, but in their case, I feel they are going through a golden period with the players they have. I understand Levy is looking for a buyer and if he finds an individual who is willing to dig deep, a true football fan with ambition for the club (unlike Kroenke), they will leave us far behind.
As for Steve Bould, as a defensive coach he has failed. I have just read Tony Adams' latest book "Sober" and I am impressed by his defensive analysis as a coach. He was not a success as a Manager, but as a coach he could be a worthwhile addition to Arsenal. Judgement on Emery will have to wait till next Season, but the team's current form is a mystery and Emery must take responsibility for this dismal patch. If he is not given he funds to strengthen the defence, plus a world class replacement for Ramsey in his position, I wouldn't blame him if he resigned.
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posted on 6/5/19
The biggest problem has been recruitment and scouting. Ozil, Mkhi, Mustafi, Xhaka are up there with the worst signings the club's ever made and costing the club every week with mistakes and poor performances. Stan hasn't done a lot wrong apart from trusting people who've wasted huge amounts of money on players who don't contribute anything useful to the club.