Our chairman Peter Hill-Wood has announced that our overall debt has risen from £153.3m in 2005 to £262.1m. But the level of pre-tax profits from the sale of players was up to £19.2m, while our run in the Champions League meant our football business increased turnover to £132.1m.
This again proves how football has become more than just a game. Ever since football became televised, the financial aspect of the game has become vital and is undoubtedly now an underlying contributor to success.
It was important that we were the top earning English club last year, as moving into our new home could well have meant a tightening of the purse. Arsene Wenger has a vision for our future where we are one of the biggest clubs in Europe. It is clear that this is equally a matter of success and financial power. The gaffer’s astute nose for skill has seen him buy some of the best young players in the world for bargain prices, but this cannot always be the way forward. In recent years our lack of additional players in the squad has been a hindrance. Sometime you need to fork out top dollar for the greatest players at their peak to give you an immediate boost – and at the moment we are not in a position financially to do so.
When a major player is ready for a transfer to England; Chelsea and Man U will have first pickings, but this is only the present situation. AW is unselfishly planning for a future beyond himself at the helm. He has already written his place into Arsenal history, not only with our success on the pitch, but also with his success in the transfer market (and in the meeting rooms too).
Best of all, clearly he also has a great deal more to give.
Long live AW.