For 25 years, Arsenal have enjoyed the services of either David Dein or David Fiszman. They were true custodians and acted on behalf of the club in the transfer market. When needed they provided personal financial guarantees to make things happen. Fiszman, for example, made sure Arsenal will sign Dennis Bergkamp with his own money.
This summer is the first without Fiszman or Dein. The club seems to be suffering from it.
Arsenal’s board is extremely zealous for the “self sustaining model” and its perfectly balanced wage structure. However, this conception has left Arsenal behind it’s overspending rivals.
2014 is going to be a critical for Arsenal. Major sponsorship deals with Nike and The Emirates are over and the financial fair play is going to be tougher on big spenders.
Arsenal cannot reach this year as a Europa League team, with a team deluded from star dust. It’s bad for the new sponsorship deals, which will lead to lower commercial income than rivals, thus hurting Arsenal in the financial race the financial fair play will create.
Stan Kroenke must be there to invest or lead Arsenal to break the wage structure just a tiny bit. It should be seen as an investment. A smart one.
Arsenal could and should make a splash in the transfer market with the money the club has and the assurance from the owners that it is OK and even necessary to overspend.
WHAT TO DO NOW?