‘Arsenal can survive without Champions League cash’

Arsenal chief executive insists club can cope without the cash boost should they not finish in the top four

By The Sport Review
Thursday 6 October 2011, 19:27 UK

Arsenal are currently 15th in the Premier League table Photo: Tomazstolfa, via Flickr

Arsenal are well equipped to cope without the financial benefits of Champions League qualification next season, according Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

Doubts have been raised over the north Londoners’ top-four credentials after a miserable start to the season has left them with just seven points from seven games, and in 15th place in the Premier League table.

But Gazidis insists Arsenal, who received £26.3m from Uefa for their Champions League participation last term, are not reliant on the significant cash boost that comes as a result of playing in Europe’s elite club competition.

“We would rather qualify for it but we have a really sustainable model that can cope without it. Not just cope, but we can do well and compete,” Gazidis said at the Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

“It would be very foolish to build a business model that relied on being in the Champions League for perpetuity and I don’t think any clubs do that and, if they do, then they probably aren’t being run as responsibly as they should be.”

Gazidis feels that Arsenal’s long-term future is secure, unlike other clubs who have been spending beyond their means.

He continued: “Every club has the temptation to think that money is the answer to issues and “˜if we only spend just a little bit more, it would push us over the top of a curve’ and that is what drives the cycle of spending that you see in the game and that is not by any means always what is successful, actually.

“It is tempting to think that it is. It relieves pressure for a while but actually builds long-term pressure in other ways.

“We will continue to act with discipline to make sure we have got a good short-term and long-term future.”