2) The argument that ‘Arsenal’s shares are expensive, therefore we are immune’ is stupid. 100 shares in a company at 10,000 a share, versus 1,000,000 shares at 1 a share is pretty much identical situations. Infact, stock markets will favour the latter as it makes it easier to shift. The total value (share volume * share price) is the important factor. Just because the Arsenal shares are hitting in about 3,500 pounds a share last I checked? doesn’t mean you’re any more immune to any of this than anyone else. To buy a 51% stake in Arsenal is share price irrelevant, as you’re buying 51% of the total volume. I can’t believe you let something so simple pass you by completely.

3) I agree football in England is a complete mess. I love it. It’s a house of cards that will collapse, and we’re on the turning point of that already. But to brandish Arsenal as immune to it is ridiculous. What happens if people default on their Highbury apartment contracts? If you can’t generate enough money to cover your debt and interest payments? What happens if you drop out of the Champions League this year? -> Unlikely but not implausible. Too many variables for you to begin brandishing this around.

I agree that other clubs are in worse situations, but yours is hardly immune either.

I forgot, the only reason I mentioned the cricket story above on an Arsenal blog, was because the youth of inner London would have to trek up to the Selby Centre, White Hart Lane, in the off season to train. Where we’d have the pleasure of rolling out our own matts of beloved astro-turf. We’d even train with County pro’s as at the time it was the only facility available, and affordable!

A traumatic experience for any young gooner, having to trek out into the wastelands of darkest Enfield.

It is a beautiful complex though!

I was just having a bit of fun at the expense of your political views.

It may not be cricket but the chavs have been responsible more than any other club for the rapid debasement of our Great Game. They can take a running jump. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I have any sympathy for them or theirs.

Doh!

Yeah, well at least they own their own Stadium, it serves the local community, the club exists, it’s not receiving scary letters from the inland revenue.

Unfortunately I’m not a dictator, and can’t fix the economy of the entire South of England to make it feasible for a tiny club like Dartford to be able to budget for a competent team to maintain their grounds.

The only dedicated natural football playing surface in practically the whole of N.London, that you don’t have to be a professional in order to be able to play on is Hackney Marshes, and that’s been reduced, we’ve yet to see what the ‘olympic legacy’ will be. Name me another please?

If you played cricket like I did for London Schools, you’ll be in for a more interesting hunt. At least if you just want to have a kick about, you can play in a normal park. Seriously, you should check out the quality facilities provided to the youth of London at North Middlesex cricket club in Crouch End/Highgate Wood. Lovely grass there (no football fields) but facing a genuine a fast bowler, a club player from Jamaica on such facilities, is frankly, not for me, and I was a fast bowler. I’d much rather play Asian ‘tape ball’ cricket on the pavements near Highbury, showing off in front of Arsenal fans & chatting to Barry Davies as he’d stroll down to cover his three o’clock game. London Fields cricket club is very cool, but you can’t train there.

Why let economic reality get in the way of a glib joke? After all climate change is just a load of old cobblers isn’t it mate?

Boom boom.

I don’t know why he did it, because Henry obviously still had a lot to offer (or why would a club like Barça buy him?)

Henry contributed goals, goals, goals to Barça’s historic season as hexacampeon, and to see him getting a CL medal, La Liga title medal and so on, was highly gratifying.

The romantic in me wonders if Wenger sold him because he knew Henry would have the chance to win copious honors in the tail-end of his career, but only with Barça, that would not be available at Arsenal for another few years, and that one of the greatest players should not be without this opportunity?

Fortunately Arsenal FC is not the only football club in the UK managed by people with a soul, or brain even.

The FA’s Burton academy may still be behind the Ascot expenses on the FA’s checklist ( amongst other things) but it is reassuring to see people who love football just getting on with things.

http://www.dartford.gov.uk/princespark/about.htm

Yes, it seems the climate change ‘debate’ even exists on this blog. Fortunately for Dartford FC, there is no debate, and in the future, their running & maintenance costs for their stadium will be much lower thanks to things like, efficient boilers, rain water harvesting, a green roof etc…Some would call them crazy & deluded. I can only conclude; it looks like a lovely club.

I’ll try and put together a piece on this in the next day or so.

Tommo, if you are still reading, I’d recommend Zilouf’s on Upper Street. It’s a Pan-Asian restaurant and it’s about 20 mins walk from The Ems.

I often eat there before the game with my dad and, if you book through Toptable, you can get 2 courses for £15.

I’m sorry the D&G couldn’t understand Wenger and his sacrifice for Arsenal. This is why articles like Tony’s are really important in this circumstances. To help us gooners understand the decision the board and manager took was the best for Arsenal.