Hold your fire!
Gunners chief executive urges fans to unite behind Wenger
LONDON: Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis urged fans to cease their heckling of Arsene Wenger and unite behind the long-serving manager.
Despite speculation about his future the 67- year- old French coach finally signed a new twoyear contract after the end of last season in which Arsenal finished fifth.
”I want the atmosphere to be united,” Gazidis said at a fans event yesterday. “It has been a struggle because we haven’t had that.
“There has been disagreement. There has been a lack of unity and dissatisfaction. The board knows that.
“I beg you, please come together and give our manager and this team support.”
Gazidis, whose own relationship with Wenger was reported to have become strained last season, promised fans that the club were aiming to secure “top-quality” new faces.
However, they have seen a big-money bid for French international striker Alexandre Lacazette rejected by Lyon and their only signing so far has been Bosnian international defender Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer from Bundesliga outfit Schalke.
They also face a battle to retain their star player Chilean Alexis Sanchez – who inspired them to salvaging their season with victory in the FA Cup over champions Chelsea – as he has been increasingly linked with a move to Manchester City.
“We’re looking for top- quality players,” said Gazidis.
“We’ve got three times as many scouts as we had four years ago. I believe that to be a world-class football club, you’ve got to be world class off the pitch.”
Some fans are disillusioned with the direction the club are heading in under Wenger, a feeling com- pounded by the perception that he is unwilling to spend big money on players that can take Arsenal to the next level.
On the pitch, Arsenal won the FA Cup but finished fifth in the Premier League, failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in Wenger’s 21-year tenure. Gazidis denied there was an element of sentimentality behind the decision to give Wenger an extended stay.
“It wasn’t a sentimental decision,” he said.
“It was a mutual one ... I care about the club and those values. I want the club to be successful.”—