Gunners were thrashed 10-2 by Bayern...but disbelieving fans told they overperformed
Wenger: My hunger is bigger than ever
striker Alexandre Lacazette but signed only one other player, defender Sead Kolasinac on a free.
Gazidis said: “Despite the criticism, we have performed very well over a long period of time. I agree that we have to find ways to perform better.”
Gazidis insisted that Wenger always has the final say on transfers and was adamant that the club had changed their policy over selling players. The Gunners held on to contract rebels Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, with both having only a year left on their contracts, whereas in the past players such as Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri were sold under similar circumstances.
Gazidis said: “The most vocal criticism we’ve ever had at an annual general meeting was after we transferred Van Persie in the last year of his contract.
“We were told then that we were financially motivated and not focused on football. This summer we’ve taken a different tack. The decisions on Sanchez and Ozil are not decisions that fit the narrative that we put myself to be better every day – and I will sit down every year with my board to see where I go.
“I am 21 years at the club and I want to feel that I do well and see what the board thinks of my performance. After that we decide where we go from there. My desire has always been to respect my contracts.
“No matter what happens one day I will always love this club forever and be an eternal fan.
“I have dedicated 99 per cent of my lifetime to try to make you as fans happy. Looking at what’s happened today, it’s not easy. I concede that but my resolution and determination is stronger money first. We have taken that approach to give the club the best possible chance to compete for trophies.”
The mood of the floor was exacerbated after the return of both Keswick and Josh Kroenke to the board was overwhelmingly defeated on a show of hands by shareholders, with the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust indicating that all their members would vote that way.
But when both resolutions went to a vote, the two bigwigs won the day. In a leaflet handed out at the meeting, the than ever.” Wenger, who won the FA Cup last year for the third time in four seasons but has not tasted victory in the Premier League since 2004, added: “A club for me is about values that have been created by the past.
“I have been guided all my life here by respecting these values and I serve this club with integrity, and total commitment but I will never betray those people who created these values. A few clubs have enormous resources – they can concentrate the best players in the world in their clubs. We have to find a way to compete with these clubs.” supporters’ trust said: “We feel that the present directors are not acting with sufficient independence, nor representing the interests of the small shareholders or the future custodians of the club.
“Our review identified an ageing board lacking in diversity, without the skills needed to run a modern professional football club. We believe corporate governance change is needed.”
That change was denied and the claims of fans simply swept under the carpet.