What is the end goal of Arsenal?

In light of the the current transfer window I’ve been wondering what is the purpose of Arsenal FC? Is it a business purely bent on making money or is it a sports franchise that is supposed to have the ultimate goal of winning? The two seem, at least in the way Arsenal is run, separate of each other. So which is it – profit or silverware?

At the close of this transfer window we’ve taken a look at the outlay of the club in bringing in talent versus the money that came in based on player sales. The outlay for new talent was approximately £47 million and what came in based on sales was around £59 million. The club ended it’s business with a profit of £12 million added to a reported transfer kitty of around £35 million. So the club are left with the possible £49 million that went unused.

Of course this is all largely speculative. The club never releases the actual figures of their transactions and the real amount of the existing transfer kitty isn’t really know. We’ve heard that it’s around £35-40 million and is there for both transfer fees and player salaries.

Aresenal are held up as a shining example of running a club the right way. We’ve got a wage structure in place that we adhere to. We have very little debt relative to our direct competitive set  and we are one of the few clubs that continually makes a profit year over year. On the surface everything looks good. Right? The business model we operate under is augmented with an on the pitch style that is admired by many neutrals and the way we bring and rely on youth talent is looked at as the “right way to do it.”

But is that the way we should be run?

I’ve no doubt in my mind that the model above represents a good way to keep Arsenal competitive. It helps it maintain the club’s status as one of the “elite” in Europe. We are respected and Wenger is often praised for the model of a club he presides over. However, as well regarded we are and as good as our model may seem all this is done unfortunately to the detriment of winning silverware – which in my book, should be the ultimate goal of any sports organization. That doesn’t mean that you can’t win with that, it just means you have handicapped yourself against the clubs whom you think you compete against.

The Arsenal financial model should be applauded but when it prohobitst he club from attracting the best talent available, you have to question whether or not if it is a sound operating principle? If you can’t or won’t pay your talent what the going wage for players happens to be, how can you hope to retain them when the riches of other clubs can easily turn their heads? Add that to over paying young talent for not achieving anything then you are establishing a recipe for disaster.

Not one fan or pundit or blogger begrudges bringing talented youngsters in the squad. But as been shown in recent years, an over reliance on that type of player is misguided. Youngsters need older players to emulate and who can act as leaders. Youngsters are prone to mistakes. Getting proven, known talent augments the development of the youngsters and provides the glue that keeps the core you are trying to build together. Paying for that kind of talent, is at a premium. You have to pay the fee and you have to pay the wages associated with it.

Let’s be clear, this is not an argument for suddenly following the spending model of Man City and others of that ilk. I just don’t get spending £25 million on the likes of Milner, Lescott or even Toure (£35 million on Andy Carroll.) I also don’t agree with paying a premium on talent because of their nationality.  But I do believe in spending £38 million on Aguerro. (Okay even that may have been a little high). When the club identifies a known, quantifiable talent like Karim Benzema or Eden Hazard, management needs to take a look at the whole picture (not just the cost) and ask is this a talent that is worth it (are they going to help us get over the hump?) If he is, then we should pay the fees  that are associated with securing that kind of talent.

Securing 1 or 2 of those types of players are the difference between challenging for 4th and challenging for 1st. We hear all the time about how brilliant our style of play is and a large section of fans in my opinion have become prone to accepting that as long we achieve beautiful attacking football and secure a top 4 finish then all is well. But that’s not what sports is about. Sports is about winning on the field.

We shouldn’t expect less nor should the club. To settle for less resigns the club to mediocrity that is counter to this club’s great tradition. Its counter to the foundation of Arsene Wenger’s reign. Wenger, the board and associates should be applauded for their desire ot build us a stadium that helps us become a super club. But their mentality is more aligned with a mid-table club that is looking to stay – wait for it – competitive.

Until this club reexamines how it secures and then pays top talent it is at a disadvantage to attracting top talent. As long as we remain competitive we will of course be able to maintain a talent level that keeps us there and hopefully continues to challenge for a Champion’s League spot. But we have to be more than that. At some point Arsenal needs to be more than just operating the right way, it needs to go back to winning. Winning the profit league doesn’t get you any silverware afterall. Remember we are Arsenal FC, not Arsenal LLC.

Until the next time. . . Stay Goonerish!!!!

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