He's never going to takeover at Arsenal, bring your yacht here.
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/club...ys-right-things-but-fans-need-more-than-words
Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis says right things but fans need more than words
Arsenal in danger of being an also-ran club (2:11)
Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis made his best effort at bridge-building
during Thursday evening's Q&A session with fans at the Emirates. Yet the meeting's derisory atmosphere made it clear that those supporters who are still disillusioned with years of what they called "stagnation" need action rather than words before the Arsenal board regains their trust.
Gazidis used the session (which he hosts a few times a year) to call for unity among fans after unprecedented levels of dissent this spring, while also defending owner Stan Kroenke and the decision to stick with manager Arsene Wenger for another two years.
He promised "top-class" signings this summer and pleaded with fans to show "togetherness" when the new season begins. He identified the hiring of new performance director Darren Burgess and contract negotiator Huss Fahmy as evidence that the club is making changes behind the scenes. And while he didn't necessarily provide the answers some supporters were looking for -- or produce Kylian Mbappe on stage with him -- he also didn't shy away from tough questions about last season's Premier League collapse or the tepid atmosphere at home games.
There was an emotional moment when the son of former FA Cup hero Reg Lewis told Gazidis in frank terms that the matchday atmosphere is the worst he has seen in 50 years, and that he has never experienced "such a period of stagnation." Those comments drew widespread applause, and Gazidis admitted that "it doesn't make me proud or happy to acknowledge" that many other fans feel the same way.
When Gazidis said he couldn't understand why supporters believe that Kroenke -- the American majority owner -- is only interested in money, the statement was met with derisory laughter. As Gazidis pointed out, however, it's a lot harder to accuse Kroenke of money-grubbing after the American turned down a bid from minority owner Alisher Usmanov that would have netted him a few hundred million dollars in profit
Gazidis himself might not be overly popular among Arsenal fans, but he deserves credit for continuing to stage these periodic face-to-face events with supporters despite knowing the atmosphere will get heated at times.
And many of the points he raised are valid -- including the reminder that cash injections from a billionaire oligarch might sound attractive, but come with their own types of costs.
Gazidis is clearly aware of the rift that currently exists between Arsenal's board and its fans, and is trying to do all the right things this summer to mend the fraught relationship. Thursday's meeting was part of that process, as is the serious intent to deliver the type of blockbuster summer signing that will get the fan base galvanised again.
But talk alone won't produce unity, especially when the club's transfer dealings seem to be dragging out yet again without any concrete results in sight.
In the end, the only way to truly change the atmosphere at the Emirates is to give the crowd something other than words to get excited about. Gazidis is very good at saying the right things, but he must prove he can back up his words as well.
But, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he won't sell Sanchez to a Premier League rival, even if that means losing him on a free transfer next summer, while Bayern have indicated that a reported £50 million price tag may be too high.
