The chief executive of Arsenal Ivan Gazidis claims that the club cannot compete with its rivals in the Premier League with transfer sums because the club cannot afford a big mistake.
The Gunners offered this summer £ 29.3 million pounds for the striker Alexandre Lacazette, but Lyon had this amount declined. Another striker, who was linked with Arsenal, Gonzalo Higuain, transferred this week from Napoli to Juventus for £ 75.3 million pounds.
Arsenal brought this summer three new players – midfielder Granit Xhaka from FC Basel striker Tasun Asano and stopper Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers. However, the London club was criticized for its weak activity, with regards to seeking further forward.
Gazidis, protects the club policy, claiming that the club will continue to be cautious in terms of future plans.
We can’t afford to outgun competitors that have far more money. We have to be very careful, very selective. We would not be successful if we simply went out into the transfer market and tried to outgun our competitors. We’re run in a self-sustaining way, and a way that we believe in because we believe it gives us certainty for the future and enables us to plan our future with confidence, “says Gazidis.
Beyond that, he revealed that Arsenal will continue to plan the investments in the youth system. It is a strategy which in the management team believes and thinks that in the future will be very worthwhile. Gazidis claims that Arsenal continues to be as active as the other clubs in terms of transfers and management still believes in the current coach Arsene Wenger, that he can get the maximum out of his minimum. However, do not expect any large transfers.
This year, the club is investing £20 million pounds in the development of infrastructure – particularly in the training center for youth teams, along with the Academy and the main training center. These are investments whose value will return in the future, the next 10, 15, 20 years.
Any decision agreed by the management team and passed the approval of Arsene Wenger, though Gazidis admits that the current manager will probably not see all the fruits of this investment. French coach had admitted that his team still needs at least one forward.
Arsenal finished last season in second place, which is not a bad result, but the fans want more. Mainly, they want a real trophy. Last Premier League title of the squad was still on the old stadium Highbury in the memorable 2003-2004 season, when Arsenal did not lose even once.
If the traditional London club wants to get the most from their club policy, first, it should stop selling the players who grew up in the academy.
source: skysports.com, foto: wikimedia.org