Adidas Chief: Arsenal Have Been Underperforming, But We Believe In Their Future

Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted has backed the latest kit deal between the German brand and Arsenal Football Club…

Adidas chief Kasper Rorsted believes he’ll see a huge return on his big investment after securing a deal worth £300million over five years to become Arsenal’s new kit manufacturer, CNBC reports.

It was announced on Monday that we’ll now move forward with adidas, ending a five-year partnership with Puma which was worth half the reported numbers on this new deal.

As a self-sustainable club, commercial revenue is of paramount importance and we have to commend the club for securing a deal rumoured to be the third biggest kid deal in football history, according to the report.

It represents just another change in what has been a revolving door at the club, following the departure of Arsene Wenger and the majority of his staff.

At ownership level, Stan Kroenke has bought out the second largest shareholder Alisher Usmanov, thus taking the club into private ownership.

And, most recently, 10-year chief executive Ivan Gazidis announced he’s leaving for a similar role at Italian giants AC Milan, a move which shocked most Arsenal fans.

Having said that, Rorsted was under no hesitation to conclude a deal with a club he believes has been punching below its weight but can reach the very top once again.

“When we look upon the Arsenal brand, it’s a stellar global brand that’s been under-performing in the last couple of years,” he told CNBC.

“We believe that long-term there is so much upside in Arsenal. It’s less about that change, but we’re just convinced it had to change, last season was probably their worst season they had.

“If you look upon how they’re playing right now, 5-1 at Craven Cottage against Fulham, playing some of the best football, some of the best goals were made … Ramsey when he made the goal with the heel.

“It’s just stellar football. They had a good weekend, but in the wrong kit!”

Check out his comments in the video above.