Key Events So Far
- Gazidis on contract renewals
- Sir Chips on Wenger's contract
- Wenger given a standing ovation
- Wenger: "Lets meet these challenges together"
- Wenger on the responsibility he has
- Gazidis on growth of the club...
Arsenal defend Gazidis salary
Arsenal have defended the huge £2.65million salary and £1m bonus paid to their CEO Ivan Gazidis.
The club’s supporters had demanded to know why he was being rewarded despite the Gunners failure to win a trophy last season.
But Gazidis was backed by chairman Sir Chips Keswick at Monday’s AGM.
He said: ““Ivan is doing a first class job in leading the club. We are very fortunate to have him as a CEO.”
Gazidis himself said Arsenal “are now beginning to compete on wages with some of those clubs around us”.
Read the full story here.
That's all she wrote
And that is that, the AGM is over.
It was a fascinating look at the current state of the union for Arsenal and there’s plenty to pick apart from that.
Few stones were left unturned - transfers, contracts, safe standing, Wenger’s future and plenty more besides that.
Stick with us as we’ll have plenty of reaction from a busy session at the Emirates coming right up.
Gazidis on fans leaving early
Gazidis’s response after being asked by a fan about Arsenal fans leaving early and ground not being full at full time to applaud fans off while fans at other clubs stay to clap their players off is as follows:
“I know there has been internal debate and argument within the club and hope we can come together.
“The fans make a significant difference to what we can achieve over the next years.
It is our responsibility to come up with a team and players you can believe in and comes down to players inspiring stadium to want to be behind them and with them.
“I hope we can develop that kind of unity and we can see that issue you describe coming down. There is no stick you can use. This has to be organic and come through the club.”
Gazidis on contract renewals
One of the other hot topics in Islington these days is the mooted contract extensions for Ozil and Sanchez.
Step up Ivan Gazidis.
“We have a good track record in recent season of retaining our key players, developing young players and attracting new players,” says the Gunners CEO.
“I can’t get into a discussion on individual players but can assure you will apply the same focus, rigour and diligence to members of our current squad and I think you can see the direction of travel.”
Wenger on his approach to buying a centre-back in the summer
Wenger’s summer shopping for a centre-back is the next topic up for debate.
“Why did I not buy a centre-half before the start of the season? Mertesacker was injured very early.
“I don’t agree with what is in brackets (that Mertesacker is not good enough!!) and Gabriel was injured before season and was experience and Holding has also done well.
“We started negotiating, we met with Ivan Gazidis in the states the agent of Mustafi and agreed the deal but it took long to get over the line as Valencia were reluctant to sell.
“We also took longer because in pre-season he was injured and he couldn’t have played against Liverpool.
“When he came he had had just 45 minutes of competition. We needed him to push too and that is sometimes a slow process as it is not only us that can decide whether he signs.
“With centre-backs, if you look at the investments made all over the country it is a difficult subject as a lot of clubs invested s a lot of money and it is difficult to find the quality to strengthen your squad.”
Wenger asked about his choice of captain
The next question is one on Wenger’s choice of captain.
He says: “I have a group of leaders, five in the team and we can rotate quite easily. Mertesacker was chosen before he was injured and he has
real authority whether he plays or not and high standards of quality of behaviour.
“He is a real leader and respected by everybody. we have assistant captains - Koscielny and Cazorla.”
Sir Chips on Wenger's contract
Ah, the big one.
Here’s what Sir Chips Keswick responds with when questioned about Wenger’s contract:
“We all recognise the fantastic contribution Arsene has made to club in last 20 years.
“We are confident about his ability to take us forward.
“We will sit down and discuss the future at the appropriate time but our focus is on maintaining the current run and competing for trophies.”
Gazidis on competing commercially
Ivan Gazidis is now asked whether Arsenal will be able to strike commercial deals to rival some of those agreed recently by some clubs like Chelsea’s Nike deal.
“When we signed deals with Emirates and Puma they were two of biggest in world football,” he begins.
“When agreeing those deals we anticipated a rising market and we are comfortable with the length of those deals. The Emirates shirt sponsorship deal has two years to run but I can’t say how long the Puma deal has to run as the length of that was never disclosed at the time.
“We are happy with both deals and when renewal time comes I’m confident we will achieve another excellent result.”
Onto the Q&A session - and one on safe standing
Now we are into the fans’ question section.
Gazidis currently answering one on safe standing
“It is perhaps higher on the agenda as we look to see the experience Celtic have. It is not against legislation in Scotland so that is why they can do it. In England the authorities need to be convinced that it is safe and won’t create disorder and crowd control issues that have been largely eliminated.
“Arsenal are open minded but cannot make this determination on their own. New legislation is needed for this to happen (in England). We will monitor Celtic with interest and if that is positive there will be more momentum for a further study into this topic.”
Wenger given a standing ovation
Arsene Wenger given a warm welcome before he started speaking and ovation when he finished.
The mood is a lot better this year at the AGM compared to some of those in recent years.
Wenger: "Lets meet these challenges together"
“I believe the team has the commitment, togetherness, hunger, desire and unity and we have a good chance to compete for the Premier League”, Wenger continues.
“Our challenge is to compete for everything starting tomorrow in the League Cup and even if you see some new faces our desire is to qualify and fight for everything because I believe we have a squad that is more mature and better equipped to cope with all the challenges we have.
“That is the target and I am absolutely committed to fulfil and give my best so that we are successful until the end of the season.
“Lets meet these challenges together as you have a big part to play in our success and I wish you all the best.”
Wenger on Arsenal's title hopes
Impressive stuff this from the Frenchman as he continues to address the crowd with no notes at his disposal.
“I believe we have a compete team in a very competitive league,” he continues.
“If you look now it is 20 points which means the championship will be decided between 82 to 86 points and what we have learnt since the start of the season is every game is a fight and you need absolutely to be at your best to win.
“That means we have to be really focused on details, keeping the energy inside out club but even more inside our team as every single detail can get you points.
“We have an important month in front of us as end of October and November could be an important month because we have many big games and having our injuries back could play a key part in that.”
Wenger on the responsibility he has
The Arsenal boss continues.
“A lot has changed in 20 years.
“It was always a big club and popular club but __football has moved forward, changed a lot and we have moved from __football that is very football to a world brand. Arsenal has become a club that is world known and world famous.
“It gives you big responsibilities when you are manager and our club is liked for what we stand for.
“We give chances to young players, committed to our style of play that is respected all over the world and people know what playing Arsenal football means and I believe that is important.
“A big club has that kind of responsibility.
“We work on the style of play from youth level upwards and it’s important we continue to work on that. It is based on the guy waking up and going to the game thinking today I could see something special. It is important we have that desire.”
Wenger: "I would like to apologise for every minute I make you suffer"
Wenger indeed starts with a joke. Always start with a joke.
“Yes it’s 20 years, I’m sorry but I would like to thank you for your consistent support. I would like to apologise for every minute I make you suffer in these 20 years but you don’t look too bad for people who have suffered for 20 years. I am sorry for the boy who was born 20 years ago and only known one manager.
“I would reassure that when he will be 40 he will know a few more.
“I tried to serve for 20 years this club sincerley, with complete commitment loyalty and of course competence and that was a very important part of my guidance and I tried to respect what is important for this club, respect for people, humility and as well always try to develop the team and the club.”
Wenger is up...
The Gunners boss has taken to the stage and by the look of this photo posted by a fan on Twitter, he looks like he’s enjoying himself.
Getting a definate stand-up comedy vibe here.
“So what’s the deal with airplane food...” etc.
Gazidis: "The squad continues to progress"
The Gunners CEO is continuing to discuss the squad.
“Overall we’ve attracted some global talent. Sanchez and Ozil are renowned names.
“But also there are many, many players and I could list them for the next five minutes who probably weren’t on the radar of most clubs and media but were players we believed in and fit with what our club and management believe we needed.
“I’d mention Mustafi, Xhaka, Perez and Holding. The squad continues to progress through those investments.”
Gazidis on the Arsenal squad
“There is continual growth in investment in wages but also in transfer fees.
“Very importantly our players sales have reduced so we have retained more of our important players had funds available to pay market values and as a result the reliance we’ve had on transfer revenue has gone down dramatically.”
Gazidis on growth of the club...
More from the Gunners CEO, as he continues to discuss the growth of the club:
“You have a club that is Arsene Wenger would do everything himself.
“There is a big team around him of world leading experts in areas such as scouting, player recruitment, analytics, medical, strength and conditioning, psychology and coaching.
“All these different areas that equip us to move forward with the game.”
Yup, this is what £2.65million plus a £1million bonus gets you every year:
Gazidis on wages: "We are beginning to compete"
Ivan Gazidis is now going through some of the figures in accounts.
Something he is keen to point out is that Arsenal “are now beginning to compete on wages with some of those clubs around us” after a period when they were some way behind.
Manager Arsene Wenger is also due to speak after Gazidis.
Sir Chips on Gazidis' salary: "We are fortunate to have him"
One of the hot topics today was the justification of CEO Ivan Gazidis’ £2.65million salary and £1million bonus.
Gunners chairman Sir Chips Keswick is quick to defend his man.
“Ivan is doing a first class job in leading the club. We are very fortunate to have him as a CEO.”
And here is the man himself bringing some strong PowerPoint skills to the table.
So that’s what this kind of money gets you...
Kroenke stays on as a director
A close call for Stan Kroenke just now. Room were split over whether to keep him on as a director but after a second show of hands Sir Chips Keswick decides the majority were in favour.
Kroenke: "You should be proud of the last 20 years"
Kroenke continues to sing Wenger’s praises:
“We have a great club and are very excited about this season.
“We know we will compete for trophies and always have and would like nothing better than to see you win the championship this year.
“You should be proud of the last 20 years.”
Kroenke hails Wenger
Before they start going through the AGM Agenda, Arsene Wenger is presented with a portrait featuring a montage of the 210 players he has picked to play for the club, to mark his 20 years as manager.
Owner Stan Kroenke, who presented the portrait to Wenger, said:
“It’s great to be here and wonderful day.
“Arsene you’ve always shown commitment, dedication and energy and you brought a new style to English football and our club.
“Also in a world of great scrutiny and pressure you’ve always handled yourself with class.
Adrian Kajumba is at the Emirates
Proceedings are just getting underway.
On the top table are Lord Harris, Josh Kroenke, David Miles, Sir Chips Keswick, Ivan Gazidis, Stan Kroenke, Arsene Wenger and Ken Friar.
Applause for Wenger
We start with a round of applause for Arsene Wenger, as owner Stan Kroenke hands him a portrait to mark his 20 years of service.
Arty, isn’t it? Lovely stuff.
Not a tough crowd so far for the Gunners big wigs...
Almost time...
They’re just about to get started at the Emirates.
The main men have taken to the stage, with Arsene Wenger sat with the likes of Stan Kroenke and Ivan Gazidis.
It’s good timing for Kroenke, who was able to watch his LA Rams lose to the New York Giants at Twickenham yesterday afternoon.
Right, let’s see what they’ve got to say...
Giroud set to return
Olivier Giroud is in line to make his first start of the season against Reading in the EFL League Cup on Tuesday night.
Arsenal striker Giroud came back late after reaching the final of the Euros with France and has fallen down the pecking order.
Giroud was also sent off at Paris Saint Germain and had a toe injury which has meant that he has been well below below match sharpness.
But Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to bring back the French centre forward and hopes to be able to rest a host of big names to give them a breather after admitting some were jaded.
Read more here.
The stage is set
Not long to wait now.
Arsene Wenger is almost exclusively late for his weekly press conferences on a Friday morning, but with all the Gunners suits in attendance today, it’s highly likely that he’ll be on time for this one.
And the Gunners boss is looking forward to today’s meeting.
“I think we have never gone into the AGM in a disastrous state,” Wenger said after Saturday’s draw against Middlesbrough briefly took his side top.
“Why? Because we are always in the top four. Work in the club for six months and you will see how it is inside. We have always been, every time, in a decent financial situation.
“Maybe the shareholders were not always happy. Will it be better this time? Come to the AGM and you will see. I don’t know the weather forecast.”
John Cross on what to expect
Arsene Wenger has faced some angry Annual General Meetings in the recent past.
It is a fascinating event because it provides an insight into Arsenal ’s latte-sipping classes complaining about everything from the price of pizza on a match day to Wenger’s latest signing.
But this year the mood ahead of the AGM today feels very different, despite a disappointing draw against Middlesbrough as the north Londoners blew the chance to put daylight between themselves and their title rivals.
Wenger will attend even though, normally, he would be taking training the day before a game, as Arsenal entertain Reading in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night. That lays down the importance of the manager on every level.
Read more from Crossie here.
