by Nia Griffiths
Arsenal chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, has insisted that not only is Arsene Wenger in fine health, but the hunger and passion for the club he loves is still very much there.
Wenger is arguably the biggest Arsenal fan on the planet, despite what many fans may say. He loves the bones of this club and would never do anything to intentionally hurt it. He’s suffered through backlash from the media, fans asking for his resignation and players he stood by leaving for more money.
Despite everything, Wenger is still with the club when many others wouldn’t be and, according to Gazidis, he will be for many years to come.
Speaking recently, he said, “He’s been incredibly important for us… You never know [whether he’ll exceed Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure at Manchester United] but he’s in great health and he’s doing incredibly well. He’s full of energy and enthusiasm, his hunger is still there, and I’d never put an end-date on it.”
Gazidis joined Arsenal in 2009 when we weren’t challenging and, seemingly, no one wanted to play for us. He’s therefore seen Wenger through the ups and, mostly, downs.
He continued, “He’s also been a passionate supporter of the club, in a sense a fan of the club. He’s put the club’s progress and development above his own personal interest.
“We believe we have the right man in the club and we’re very pleased that he’s full of health and willing to carry us forward.”
Finally, he spoke about competing not just in terms of football and financially with other clubs from around the world.
He added, “We’re not able to compete at that level yet. It’s true now we also have the ability to add some players (from) the top.
“But what’s more important to us is that we’re able to continue our (youth) development philosophy and then hold on to the players.
“That’s the most exciting story, that’s what the success of Arsenal is built on and is going to be built on. And if you look at all the most successful football clubs over time, they all have that at their heart.”
When it comes to going forward, Gazidis believes we’re in a good place, not just financially but mentally.
“We’ve got a growing sense of belief in our squad,” he said. “We want to be more consistent going into next season… we definitely have the quality in our squad to compete and win the league.”