Let's hear it for the Arsenal

All fans think their football club is special but it may be time to acknowledge that, to bastardise George Orwell, one club is more special than all the others. In these difficult economic times only one Premier League club is resisting – indeed actively fighting off – the rush to embrace a rich foreign businessman in the hope that they can buy success, and more importantly provide a massive dividend for the existing owners. Let’s hear it for the Arsenal.

Arsenal’s reliance on foreign players under Arsene Wenger has been the source of much mockery for some time, but it is not only in their adherence to ancient grammar that the club put their rivals to shame when it comes up upholding other English traditions.

The board’s determination to keep the club controlled by the families who have been its custodians for generations is such that they risked alienating Wenger by forcing out his great ally, David Dein, as well as being actively hostile to Alisher Usmanov and Stan Kroenke, at least initially. Peter Hill-Wood, the chairman, may have finally decided that Kroenke is “our sort” after all, though the American’s acceptance of a seat on the board is little more than the public affirmation of a marriage of convenience. The day when he is allowed to take control remains a long way off.

Arsenal’s determination to remain what they have always been since their foundation as Dial Square in Woolwich in 1886 – a football club run primarily in the interests of their supporters – is refreshing because it provides such an obvious counterpoint to the prevailing mood of the times.

It may have become commonplace since Roman Abramovich’s era-changing purchase of Chelsea five years ago, but the desperation of many clubs to sell up to whichever foreign billionaire happens to be passing through town is still profoundly distasteful. Newcastle United and Liverpool are the most obvious examples, but the For Sale signs are also flying high alongside the club crests on the front of stadiums at Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Portsmouth. Newcastle demonstrate the dangers of buying or selling in haste, with chastened owner Mike Ashley forced to repent in leisurewear.

Arsenal’s stance is all the more noble as they pursue it despite mounting evidence that it is damaging their self interest, certainly in terms of player recruitment and therefore trophies won, but their defiance does bring some advantages.

While many clubs wax lyrical about their own traditions in many instances it amounts to little more than hot air, whereas Arsenal have established their own unique way of doing things. Wenger has established a system based on identifying the best young talent around the world and teaching them to play in the manner of the first team, as well as fitting in with the refined old Etonian traditions that still run through the club.

Even if Arsenal fail to win a trophy for a fourth successive trophy season their way of doing things will not change, which goes someway to explaining why Wenger will never come under pressure no matter how long he goes without providing silverware. In the modern game that is something special indeed.

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As if two return trips to Brazil in the space of three weeks and his supposed verbal slip that he was delighted to be at Chelsea were not enough to give the game away, Manchester City fans have received final confirmation that, at best, Robinho did not want to sign for them and, at worst, was completely unaware he was doing so. Robinho has sacked his agent, Wagner Ribeiro, despite the fact that his machinations have made his client the most highly-paid footballer in the world on a staggering £160,000-a-week. If the Brazilian takes umbrage at that kind of service then Mark Hughes may soon discover that keeping Robinho happy at Eastlands is beyond even his excellent man-management skills.

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A South African consortium bidding for Newcastle United have proposed offering Kevin Keegan a stake in the club as an incentive to secure the Messiah’s Third Coming as manager. Given the parlous financial state of his previous project, the Soccer Circus in Glasgow, was the sole reason he was lured back to St James’ Park in the first place they’d be better off giving control of the club to Coco the Clown.

Comments

[George Gibson]

I would really like to see Arsenal do well but fear that they have still got clout and above all the players who can win a game viz total determination. Chelsea & Man U display this every week and they and L'pool will finish above them. I will be pleasantly surprised if Arnsenal finish in the top 5.

[Jimmy]

Thierry Henry was on Spanish television a while ago saying that it was only after he left Arsenal that he fully realised how special the club is, as a club.
I do hope the current squad realise this - apparently Fabregas does - and remain at the club for the long term.

[cool hand fluke]

Urm... won much lately have Arsenal? Sure, they are to be commended, but that is what they give kids at school who don't win anything, a "certificate of commendation", which means: thanks for participating in the game, we love the effort... perhaps you'd like to take up sewing instead?

[werner]

All you where missing is Churchill's famous words,"We shall never surrender"...
Well done Arsenal and his master Arsene Wenger.

[Jim Regan]

Just perhaps, Mr Hughes, Robinho sacked his agent because he is so happy at City that he has already decided he never wants to leave, nor wishes to improve his current deal. Well, a City fan can but hope...

[Maria]

Excellent and finally a willingness on the part of the British media to commend Arsene and Arsenal football club's philosophy on running a football team and club

[Jim McLaren]

I agree with the article. It makes Platini's criticism of Arsenal so extraordinary. One week he slags off the Premiership for having too much money (based on foreign investment) that it's damaging the game; then he accuses Wenger of wrongdoing in managing a profitable club. Unbelieveable.

[Tony Willis]

Well put and very well done Arsenal and Arsene.
I am a Liverpool supporter and so disappointed in our American owners. They have lied to us, the scale of retreat and debt is very concerning.

[Chantelle Le Gall]

I agree 100% with Mr. Hughes' view on Arsenal. I am not British but if I were, it would be important to me to see domestic ownership of clubs.

Let's hear it for the Arsenal and our brilliant professor!

[DR]

What Arsenal are doing is to commended. Trying to run the club within it's means and sourcing quality young footballers without having to bankrupt themselves.

Ashley wanted to introduce a similar common sense model to Newcastle and was hounded out of town for his efforts.

Maybe the smartest thing Arsenal did though was build their stadium when they did and at low finance as well. The club is built on solid foundations with a manageable debt only based on the stadium, which is a revenue generating asset, unlike every other club with large debts.

All that is needed is for Wenger to push his talented young team over that edge from being challengers to champions.

It is sad to see great footballing institutions like Liverpool and Newcastle hawking themselves on street corners offering themselves up to any billionaire willing to pay for them. Liverpool have gone down this route once with disastrous results and still haven't learnt their lesson.

[Gooner]

"A South African consortium bidding for Newcastle United have proposed offering Kevin Keegan a stake in the club as an incentive to secure the Messiah’s Third Coming as manager. Given the parlous financial state of his previous project, the Soccer Circus in Glasgow, was the sole reason he was lured back to St James’ Park in the first place they’d be better off giving control of the club to Coco the Clown."

Co-Co-Comolli?