Ivan Gazidis: Arsene Wenger’s New Contract Wasn’t A “Sentimental Decision”

Ivan Gazidis lays down the club’s ambitions ahead of the new season…

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis sat down with Sky Sports’ Gary Neville before our opening Premier League clash against Leicester City to reinforce our ambitions ahead of the new season.

Gazidis came under intense scrutiny last season as the board remained silent while our form fell into disarray during the spring with fans turning on Arsene Wenger and the team.

The boss was consistently asked about his future and seemed to defer to the board, a board that remained non-existent throughout the turmoil.

Gazidis, while speaking to Neville, lambasted the knee-jerk nature of football and stated that the club couldn’t find better candidates than Wenger.

Despite being here for 21 years, the former MLS boss also wanted to clarify that the decision to extend his contract had very little to do with Wenger’s longevity.

“We’re in a society now where we are encouraged to throw away the old and buy the new thing which will make you happy and solve your issues,” Gazidis said.

“If you look across the world of football, you don’t find better candidates than Arsene Wenger. We kept coming back to Arsene.

“It wasn’t a sentimental decision, it wasn’t based on 20 years of history with the club although there is tremendous loyalty which comes with that.

“It wasn’t a decision made out of loyalty, but out of the qualities the club has and what we feel we need over the next two years to take this club forward.”

Arsenal fans are certainly trying to accept the decision made by the hierarchy in May, but spouting garbage like this is doing nothing but insulting our intelligence.

Wenger, in the end, decided he wanted to stay and there was little anyone else could do about it.

As long as he retains the backing of Stan Kroenke, Wenger will remain – regardless of what happens on the pitch.