Arsene Wenger, Stan Kroenke, Ivan Gazidis and Sir Chips Keswick all met with Arsenal members on Monday morning as the AGM took place.
Among topics of discussion were Gazidis’ salary, the money in the bank, safe standing, diversity on the board, Arsene, Ozil, Sanchez’s new deals, and more.
Kroenke started the meeting by presenting Wenger with a framed photograph of the recent programme cover which depicted his face constructed from the names of every player to play under him since he became manager 20 years ago.
Arsenal AGM starts with Stan Kroenke congratulating Wenger on 20th anniversary, says "we're very excited about this season."
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/fkhanage/status/790502300704014336
Here are the other highlights from the meeting
Kroenke on Wenger: You have shown gt dedication. You brought a new style to English football and always handled yourself with great class.
— Jeremy Wilson (@JWTelegraph) October 24, 2016
CEO Gazidis says all cash kept in property side of business "is available for the development of the team, without restriction."
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
CEO Gazidis says all cash kept in property side of business "is available for the development of the team, without restriction."
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
Kroenke told Wenger he'd like nothing more than to see him win the PL title this year.
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
About 10 hands went up opposed to re-electing Stan Kroenke to the board. More in favour though.
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
Two counts required to complete the formality of re-electing Stan Kroenke to the board (proxy votes in favour would have settled it anyway).
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) October 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/fkhanage/status/790504563195383808
Gazidis on club values: says pride in Arsenal "comes through winning titles, but it comes through an awful lot more than that as well."
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
IG: "Commercial & retail revenue has more than doubled since 2010-11 from £46m to £107m."
— FK³ (@fkhanage) October 24, 2016
Gazidis on club wage bill: "we are now beginning to compete in terms of wages with some of the clubs around us."
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
Gazidis on hiring more experts and staff: "Gone are the days when Wenger would make all decisions himself" on diet, goalkeeping training.
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
Gazidis now running through book on finances & Arsenal values, saying #afc seeks to act with "humility & integrity" pic.twitter.com/IeGRskKtwx
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick defends CEO Ivan Gazidis' £2.65m salary: "We are fortunate to have him"
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
IG: "Player sales have reduced. Our reliance on transfer income has reduced dramatically. From £65m in 2011, to £2m in 2016. Huge for us."
— FK³ (@fkhanage) October 24, 2016
Gazidis on youth players coming through: "I'm convinced that over the next years you will see more young players bursting into our team."
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
Arsenal shareholders' document highlights "We have attracted global talent." #afc used to talk about "British core" pic.twitter.com/UvFRurKqQ3
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
Gazidis: "We increasingly believe we have constructed a squad that is capable of competing for the very highest honours in the game."
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
Ivan Gazidis says Arsenal 'is for everyone' – as he stands in front of a Board made up solely of old white men. (more diversity needed)
— tim payton (@timpayton) October 24, 2016
Arsene takes the mic, 'it's been 20 years, I'm sorry for every time I made you suffer!' pic.twitter.com/DUtTywRN0j
— Tim Stillman (@Stillberto) October 24, 2016
Wenger tells Arsenal shareholders "Our style of play is respected all over the world…we work on from the youth level upwards"#ArsenalAGM
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
Wenger to shareholders: "It has changed. We live today in a very competitive world" "I manage in a completely different way to 20 years ago"
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
Wenger to #ArsenalAGM: "A lot of the pressure surrounding the players and the team is that people know more and are more demanding"
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
Wenger "Today we are in a much more competitive position than we were 5/6 years ago to fight for the championship" #ArsenalAGM
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
Wenger says Premier League champions will need between 82-86 points this season.
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
Wenger speaking to Arsenal shareholders without notes in depth
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
#ArsesnalAGM
Wenger says "let's meet these challenges together" but says nothing about his future with contract expiring at end of season— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
Wenger tells shareholders "we will have a good chance to compete for the Premiership."
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
Long speech by Wenger but mostly included points he has made before.
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
Gazidis on safe-seating: "Need to be convinced not only safe for those participating but won't create public order & crowd control issues"
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
Gazidis says Arsenal "open minded" about safe standing, and Celtic's experience will affect whether English rules will change.
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
#AFC CEO Ivan Gazidis tells shareholders "don't have restrictions on freedom of speech" in the Arsenal stadium
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
Chips Keswick on Wenger's contract: "We will sit down and discuss the future at an appropriate time."
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
Next question is why club don't put the £127 ticket price on the website. No satisfactory answer given.
— AST (@AST_arsenal) October 24, 2016
Question on empty seats. Club say ticket exchange is successful and being developed. Club say they are reviewing introducing home credits
— AST (@AST_arsenal) October 24, 2016
Arsenal chair Keswick on Wenger: "He continues to have hugee energy, passion & desire … we're confident in his ability to take us forward"
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
Question to Wenger at #ArsenalAGM about captaincy &
not buying centre back before season pic.twitter.com/2f0PM8sE2t— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016
Wenger reveals deal with Mustafi's agent was agreed during US preseason trip, but dragged out because of Valencia.
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 24, 2016
AST question on renewing Ozil, Sanchez and Bellerin contracts. Gazidis says club applying 'focus and discipline' to this challenge
— AST (@AST_arsenal) October 24, 2016
Maria asks about a stadium for the women's team. Looks like we will continue with B'wood but if we see an opportunity, AFC are listening!
— Akhil Vyas (@10akhil) October 24, 2016
Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick says looking for "appropriate" woman to sit on club's board of directors & sure will "eventually" find
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 24, 2016