Arsenal Chief Ivan Gazidis was mocked by supporters after the he called the Gunners ‘The Most Consistently Over-Performing Team’ compared to the other rivals when it comes to comparing how much they’ve spent.
AGM descended into chaos once again as their shareholders have voted out chairman Sir Chips Keswick and director Josh Kroenke. Chairman Keswick was booed and accused of trying to cut short the meeting for lunch whereas Kroenke for not speaking at all.
But Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis thinks Arsenal are the great over-achievers, knowing they last won the Premier League title in 2004.
Gazidis said: “We have been the most over-performing team over time.
“That is despite the criticism we get and the emotion here in the room. And despite some very loud subjective narratives and a great deal of inaccurate information.”
“In fact, on an objective basis, we perform very well and have over a long period of time.
“There’s one accurate way to assess how well clubs perform. To compare team performance by a series of objective metrics, usually league position or points, against expenditure on transfers.
He added: “However, I agree completely that we have to find ways to perform better.
“We want to compete at the top of the most competitive league in the world.
“And that’s why, as a club, we are making investments and giving deep thought to how we can and will improve further.”
Yet Arsenal Supporters’ Trust spokesman Tim Payton blasted the board’s performance as “pitiful” and “a shambles.”
Following Arsenal board’s behaviour Gazidis lashed: “I’m still staggered at the rudeness and incompetence from the Arsenal board and Kroenke’s refusal to speak — demonstrating his total contempt.
“No wonder Arsenal can’t deliver on the pitch when they are such a shambles in their governance and ownership. It’s broken to the core.”
Gunners sold Robin van Persie to Manchester United in 2012 after the striker made it clear he doesn’t want to play for gunners, to stop him going into the last year of his contract or on a free transfer Arsenal had to let RVP leave.
Gunners Chief stated: “Probably, the most vocal criticism we’ve ever had at an Arsenal annual general meeting was after we had transferred Van Persie.
“We were told then that we were only financially motivated — and not focused on football.
“This summer we’ve taken a different tack.
“The decisions on Alexis and Mesut Ozil are certainly not decisions that fit the narrative that we put money first.
“But we have taken that approach to give the club the best possible chance to compete for trophies this season.”
