ARSENAL PART OF DISGRACEFUL REBEL GANG THAT WANT SUPER LEAGUE

by .

Well, there’s quite a lot to unpack today.

The football, at this point, is about one thing and one thing only… winning the Europa League.

The second part of the football equation is keeping our stars fit. We didn’t manage that against Fulham. Alex Lacazette pulling up with a bad hamstring injury which could be the last of him this season, maybe even forever depending on how the summer goes.

The game overall was a bit of the nothing event.

We dominated Fulham, had 18 shots, hit the woodwork, had a good goal chalked off for a VAR minor infringement, then conceded a stupid penalty.

To the credit of the team, they did keep going until the end. Mat Ryan making himself available for a corner, nodding it to the back post where a cross was tapped in by Eddie.

The team celebrated like they’d won a world cup instead of focusing and chasing down the last minute, but there we go. There’s still a lot of education to go at Arsenal FC.

You could complain about the line-up having too many first-teamers… but when we rest players and lose, it affects our momentum.

You could complain about Balogun not making the bench, but Eddie did and he scored.

You could complain about a lot of things, but in the grand scheme of this season, the only thing that matters now is making the Champions League via the back door.

I didn’t think the performance was as bad as some made out. We created enough big chances to win that game and we weren’t treated well by VAR. The main concern defensively was Gabriel with another reckless mistake at the back. He’s young though and that’s part of the bargain with defenders of that age. I hate that he has to come out and defend himself from social media idiots. The internet really is an embarrassing place these days.

Saka, Gabriel and ESR didn’t have their best game, but man, when those three click, it’s going to be special.

The main concern going into the Everton game is who picks up that role Lacazette has been doing so well?

I think we’re dreaming if we think Auba is going to recover from malaria in a week. It’s a serious, serious disease. I think it’s going to take a while to go from hospital bed to Premier League fitness.

That gives us a conundrum in attack. Eddie is going to be off this summer, do we put our season on his shoulders? I’m not so sure the quality is there for him to do the things we need him to do.

Flo Balogun has signed his deal, he’s exciting, but it might be a bit wild to start him in a European semi-final we have to win. Crazier things have happened in the past, but that might be a stretch.

Martinelli seems the obvious choice as a striker, but he’s not a connector of players like Lacazette is. He’s more in the mould of Jesus at City. He can lead a press, he can go over the top, and he’ll work like a dog.

There are also other options in the false 9 role. Nico Pepe could be an interesting option, though I worry that he’s quite sloppy compared to Lacazette. Alternatively, the return of Odegaard might alleviate the need for Lacazette to play that role.

I just really, really, really hope it’s not an emergency call for Willian.

The other point I’d make about the Fulham game… Mo Elneny just ain’t it. He can do a lot of the basics well. He moves the ball fast, he covers a lot of ground, but the biggest miss yesterday was Partey’s quick thinking and fast actions. Mo doesn’t like to go vertical, he’s extremely low risk, and his crab football totally clogs up our game. We really need to take a chance on a youngster for the rest of the season, even if it’s worse, at least we’ll be investing in an idea we’ve not seen tank numerous times.

Onto the biggest story of yesterday: Arsenal is part of a rebel set of clubs that are pushing to set up a super league. Vinai was due to meet with fans on Sunday, but after the uproar, he cancelled. Shocker.

Here’s the basics.

  • 20 participating clubs with 15 Founding Clubs and a qualifying mechanism for a further five teams to qualify annually based on achievements in the prior season.
  • Midweek fixtures with all participating clubs continuing to compete in their respective national leagues, preserving the traditional domestic match calendar which remains at the heart of the club game.
  • An August start with clubs participating in two groups of ten, playing home and away fixtures, with the top three in each group automatically qualifying for the quarter-finals. Teams finishing fourth and fifth will then compete in a two-legged play-off for the remaining quarter-final positions. A two-leg knockout format will be used to reach the final at the end of May, which will be staged as a single fixture at a neutral venue.

It’s a £340m signing on fee. There’s no relegation. No promotion. It’s an enclosed league of ‘big name’ clubs that think they are better than everyone else. The absolute cheek that they’ll let 5 other clubs cycle in based on achievements… we’re currently 9th in the Premier League!

This is a football coup.

This is the billionaire class taking a lead in destroying football culture to entrench their wealth.

It’s anti-sport.

No one wants it.

It is an outrageous heist none of the owners will speak publicly about.

It is an international disgrace.

A few have said that the modern fan likes the big games and this might be targetted at them. I absolutely cannot have that. The narrative cannot be allowed to shift to ‘this is a visionary marketing step for a game that needs change.’

No, no, no, no. Football is fine. In fact, it’s more than fine. It would be in stunning health if not for the pandemic. Fans are getting what they want and they show it because they keep paying for it. Sky know what fans want, which is why they keep buying the rights. Amazon is sniffing around, because they know it’ll help them sell Prime bundles. There hasn’t been a conversation amongst fans about the need for a Super League.

This is not a painful idea to save a game in decline. Football is not baseball or golf. The model we have now is the hottest commodity in sport. It doesn’t need an innovation to keep the dollars rolling in.

… and if there was an innovation then SURELY that innovation is not creating a less competitive league for a select few elite names.

What makes Champions League football incredible is that everyone can win it until they can’t. A Super League will not be that. 2 or 3 teams will compete, then what of the rest? Fans like winners. A bottom of the table Super League clash will not be a spectacle. Just like it’s not a spectacle in the NFL when a once-great team that’s gone to shite falls off the wagon.

Who wants to see a shite Arsenal get walloped by Madrid? Why do Spurs, a team synonymous with losing, deserve to be in this coterie of clubs? How are Liverpool selling this vision to Klopp?

This is the billionaire class trying to impose themselves on the people’s game, again. We’ve already had to deal with expensive TV subscriptions, aggressive price hikes, attacks on the kick-offs… but the game was still the same.  Moving to this model is an attack on our football culture. Keir Starmer, the Sports Minister, and Boris have all piped up about this. Fans need an intervention at the highest level. It should not be allowed to happen. It is an international disgrace.

I am absolutely ashamed my club is part of this. Not surprised though. Stan hasn’t been able to crack the football code organically after trying 50 bang average short cuts, so now he’s attempting the ultimate short cut… start a closed competition. It is absolutely shocking.

It also shows where we are on ‘values’ and ‘class.’ Just talking points. Very sad.

Let’s see how this farce plays out.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Play

285 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Hitman49

I think your all being harsh.. The only way this manager and our club was ever going to get into Europe or a super league was for our owner to invent one… I don’t think it’s gone far enough only teams that wear red and start with the letter A are allowed to win. It. Only teams that have never won the champions league but have won the fa cup more than 12 times are allowed to the final. And it’s our idea our ball posts and nets so we get the first wining trophy… Now you know why real… Read more »

AFC Forever

“Man City and Chelsea were not “top clubs” until the money was poured into them. Why should there be a cut off now whereby the rich clubs (not top clubs) get to pull the ladder up from those below?”

Exactly, two yo-yo clubs with as much historical success as Spurs. Spurs with 2 League titles in their history, the last 60 years ago, are probably less relevant than Leicester who have at least won a Premier League.

This won’t end well.

Hitman49

Does anyone know if the games will be played Europe..?

Sorry I meant super league game being played in Europe knowing kronkie he could play our games in the USA……

Even move us to New York..! Change our team colours we already wear pink…yeah pink since when have Arsenal worn pink..?
Scotland yes 1901 Arsenal no never…

alexanderhenry

To reiterate , the ESL is an absolute dream come true for Stan.

Since he got involved he’s overseen arsenal’s decline from being a top three club to being a mid table club.
Ok, this season we can still qualify via a Europa league win, but does anyone on here see arsenal as a top a four club at the moment? We’re years away from that.

Now, it’s irrelevant.

Captain Tierney

Official club statement (what it actually meant) : Arsenal along with 11 other clubs have sold their soul to the devil. Now we will be able to make even more money for our ever-greedy owner, Stan Kroenke. Stan’s consistent hard work and undying efforts along with the help of Perez and few other greedy con men have finally ruined the Beautiful game. We hope for your continued and loyal support as we navigate through this difficult time period. 350 redundancies and a government loan has not proved enough to sustain this club, we are glad the ESL will help us… Read more »

Useroz

I see the ESL plan is far from a reality because governments and various associations have legislative and regulatory processes in their, well, arsenals that could deploy to make life extremely and prohibitive for the players as well as clubs involved.

Ultimately, laws aside, would the monetary incentives far outweigh the hassles the players , and clubs, would think worthwhile to press ahead. Clubs are controlled by these sleazy and greedy specimens but ESL business model wouldn’t fly without the necessary caliber of players.

AFC Forever

Jamie, yep that is what I was alluding too. Sacking a manager the week before a Cup Final, albeit a third rate trophy, is not a good strategy. The straw that broke the camels back may have been the ESL. Spurs really are the gift that keeps giving.

Valentin

The appeal of the big game is that they are rare occurrence, make them happen every week and people will take them for granted. It’s like the sequel, the law of diminishing return. The first one is exciting, fresh, new. The second one may have some exciting new direction (Aliens, Godfather II, …) But most often it’s is a inferior rehash of the initial film. The third one tend to be bad (Alien III, …), Full of missed opportunities and generally not like as much as the previous ones. The fourth one is usually abysmal and hated by everybody. The… Read more »

Captain Tierney

The only I cant think of to stop this BS if for the government and the domestic FAs to work together and bring the following reforms. The government of Spain/England/Italy: 1) Any professional football team operating on Spain/English/Italian soil has to be a part of the domestic league or they cannot operate. 2)Brands established in their respective countries like Arsenal in England, Barca in Spain, Milan in Italy cannot be exported to USA or any other country without the government’s consent. The FA/SpanishFA/Italy FA: 1) Teams participating in ESL cannot participate in the domestic league. This is a simple double… Read more »

Kesses gunner

Arteta has to be one lucky bastard has definately refined losing ala trust the process

Wardo

Jose sacked

Hitman49

Why haven’t we sacked our manager……….

With 340 million now in the bank let’s go get a real proper one before spuds do..

Captain Tierney

‘The appeal of the big game is that they are rare occurrence, make them happen every week and people will take them for granted. It’s like the sequel, the law of diminishing return.’

Agreed.
Noone wants to see us playing the best of the best every week. Especially in our curr state. We’ll essentially be the bottom feeders in this league.

azed

Cheney10

Stop saying the EPL won’t change because it will. The EPL is competitive because clubs want to qualify for Europe, with the ESL, Arsenal can finish 15th every year in the EPL but will still be in Europe.

Infact, the EPL becomes the Carling Cup, used to train youth players.

Wardo

I’m truly gutted that Jose has been sacked from spuds

I thought he was the best option and would have loved it if he’d stayed for many years to come as they’d win nothing more than a league cup

Emiratesstroller

AFC Forever

I have not suggested that the European Super League is a better option than EPL. However,
if it becomes a reality it will be I am afraid a more important league both financially and in
terms of quality.

I want to see Arsenal compete at the top level in the best league.

The arguments about money is meaningless. Football has become a money orientated business whether we like it or not. We live in a consumer orientated society.

Kesses gunner

I have got to admire the courage of levy despite the cup final being next week he does what he thinks is the best,i dont think any top club can hire toxic jose im afraid he is done at top level

Mr Serge

Azed is correct the league will be dead in 5 years and all the club’s in league 1 and below will die

Jim Lahey

“I want to see Arsenal compete at the top level in the best league.”

How are we meant to do that when we can’t compete with Wolves or Everton?

Danny S

Spurs making plans to go next level while we will gamble on a novice for at least another season.

Generational goings on.

Mr Serge

I am gutted they sacked Jose

Samesong

Unless spurs sell Kane and Son. They won’t be spending alot of money on big signings.

I think they do have some good youngsters coming through and the right manager could integrate them into team and make their team better.

But for the moment the will have the same problem as us still have dross in around the squad.

Hitman49

For once and only once I agree with emirates

We need to be in this if it takes off as we have absolutely no chance of qualifying ever….

The next press release I want to see is arteta sacked.

TR7

ES off the mark as usual. Arsenal won’t be competing with the big boys in ESL. We will be there as also rans fighting to not finish last. Kroneke.will have no incentive to spend a penny now. He can’t believe his luck. A lot of money in return without any investment.

Samesong

Emirates

Bayern and Dortmund will not compete in the Super League because they believe football belongs to the oens and the supporters. That’s called taking a stand.

Rich

AFC Forever I agree, even if this does get off the ground, I’d be very surprised if it lasted There’s not enough at stake, no relegation, no European qualification, the same repetitive fixture list, which leaves no urgency for progress and innovation Sport is about competition, the reason the PL has done better than the other league’s, is that we’ve had 5 different winners since 2013 Celtic had won 10 on the bounce Juventus 9 on the bounce Real + Barca have shared 15 out of the last 16 titles between them Bayern Munich have won every title since 2011… Read more »

Samesong

Towns/cities

gunnerman

Samesong
April 19, 2021 11:17:48

Emirates

Bayern and Dortmund will not compete in the Super League because they believe football belongs to the oens and the supporters. That’s called taking a stand.

We need to get this greedy bastard Kroenke out and bring the fans or a representative body of the fans back

Emiratesstroller

It is interesting that Spurs choose to sack Mourinho in the week before they play in the Carabo League Cup Final.

There must be a lot going on behind the scenes in the Spurs Squad for that to happen before such an important match.

If Spurs lose that game as they are likely to do I would not be surprised to see Kane leave the
club at end of season.

Samesong

ES

Kane has a big decision to make come end of season.
Does he leave to win trophies elsewhere or does he continue to smash records at spurs.

He may get a manager that comes in that he likes and may stay at the club forever.

Emiratesstroller

gunner man

I can assure that Bayern Munich will join the Super League if it becomes a reality. They will
want to compete at top level.

Mb

#Tottenham sacked #JoseMourinho after an explosive morning where he refused to take the squad onto the training ground over the club’s proposed European Super League admission. He was unhappy about the Super League involvement by Totenham and refused to train today and he got the boot.

Good Luck,#Jose!😁

——-

If that’s the case, for once I respect Jose here.

Cheney10

Azed I really don’t think that is true. The league was popular before top four and will still be when/if the ESL comes to fruition. There is far too much confluence of ideas on here… The ESL will be in direct competition with the CL not the EPL… I am sure they will work out a playoff system whereby there is promotion and relegation in an expanded format or a division 1 ESL to replace the europa league.

andy1886

“I want to see Arsenal compete at the top level in the best league.” ES, that’s laugh out loud funny. Where do you think AFC will be in the Super League food chain? Proping up the rest most likely. Will you enjoy watching us win maybe two or three games a season and getting a similar number of spankings? Because that’s what you’ll get. Remember, no relegation for founding members. So Stan can (and will) spend sweet FA and pocket all the money while we struggle at the bottom of that league. Never mind the morals of these bloodsuckers. People… Read more »

Jim Lahey

@ES –

“I can assure that Bayern Munich will join the Super League if it becomes a reality. They will
want to compete at top level.”

What will make this top-level? It will be a closed league with one trophy up for grabs each year. Why would anyone want to play in it? It will be a traveling sideshow for a couple seasons and then interest will fizzle out.

Dissenter

Let’s stop the bullshite Football isn’t “fine” Football has ended reform for a long time, not just the self serving crap that the ESL is offering. There are too many villains in football; FIFA and UEFA being major villains.. They haven’t cared about the sport in decades. It’s always being about the money. How on earth are we getting ready for a World Cup in Qatar in December? Why are players being made to play THREE international games in a short break? The game needs serious reform. I mean we spend most of the time bashing referees and VAR, arguing… Read more »

Dissenter

*Football has needed reform

Jim Lahey

If that is the case with Jose, fair play to him.

Terraloon

ES

Rarely do I agree with your take on things but on this one I agree 100% with you.

This competition isn’t replacing the PL and the top European clubs will join it if push comes to the shove.

UEFA have been caught out here because of their complacency.

gunnerman

Emiratesstroller
April 19, 2021 11:22:37

gunner man

I can assure that Bayern Munich will join the Super League if it becomes a reality. They will
want to compete at top level.

That is a hypothetical situation though. As of now Bayern’s stand is they do not support it and we can assume they would back any opposing movements. Unlike our spineless club.

gunnerman

Dissenter

We can all agree that UEFA and FIFA have their flaws, lots of it in fact. I think most football fans would agree too.

But the ESL is definitely not the solution.

China1

Classenal

Dissenter

The announcement of the ESL only happened because of the pandemic.’
When football gets disconnected from the fans, horrible things happen.
Rookie managers stay too long and football owners lose their collective minds and start veering off into leagues that will never take off.

Nobody wants a competition that has no history

Soham

BREAKING: Thomas Tuchel, Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta expected to announce their resignations today.

Bergkamp63

For the likes of Barca & RM (Atletico to a lesser degree), things aren’t that different, they have had their own TV rights deals for decades giving them 3 or 4 times the income of the rest of their league so it’s more of the same for them, for Arsenal it just brings us closer in terms of spending power to attract better players. Let’s face it, the way Arsenal have been run under Kroenke, we were never going to catch up with the likes of Man City & Man Utd in terms of commercial revenue so it just gives… Read more »

Soham

🚨| Liverpool FC have officially parted ways with Jürgen Klopp. Announcement to come by 15:30 BST. @FabrizioRomano

Major_Jeneral

“gunnermanApril 19, 2021 10:14:25
Fergie already said something about it. Something about moving away from history. Negative but not a heavy critic.Still waiting on Arsene in his FIFA office.”

What did fergie say about it?

andy1886

Spurs targetting Nagelsmann and Rodgers. Managers who according to Pedro wouldn’t look twice at Arsenal…

Jim Lahey

I think we can all agree that this is nothing but a cash grab from two Spanish teams about to go bankrupt and four English teams with American owners who just want to increase the value of their assets.

No one in Europe wants this. This is 100% for the casual fans in the American and Asian markets.

Emiratesstroller

Does anyone believe seriously that there is a level playing field in any of the domestic leagues in Europe?

Manchester City have the financial clout to select two title winning teams in the EPL. They
can afford to outspend every other club on planet except perhaps PSG.

If there is a Super League I suspect that the constituent clubs will set financial rules, which
prevent one club dominating the League.

Major_Jeneral

Interesting conversation so far on The subject of ESL

Dissenter

gunnerman
I agree that the ESL is utter shite.

I just can’t imagine UEFA and FIFA being guardians of the realm
A few years ago the FBI was bursting corrupt football officials in FIFA all over the world and now they are the good guys?

gunnerman
China1

UEFA and fifa are absolutely wank. Everyone hates them.

But everyone hates the ESl even more

Dissenter

Football fans in. America don’t want the ESL too.. People that follow football [soccer] in Europe understand the organic connection between the communities and the clubs.

Stop all the American bashing. It’s uncalled for.

If English clubs didn’t get so greedy, there wouldn’t be a case for international investors.

Jim Lahey

“If there is a Super League I suspect that the constituent clubs will set financial rules, which
prevent one club dominating the League.”

Why would you suspect this? Why would any of the clubs agree to this?

China1

Yeah fifa and UEFA are corrupt as fook

Absolutely hate them both

Somehow they’ve drilled oil by people actual long being on their side for once

Dissenter

What a crazy day in football
Is there another specific brain eating virus infecting football.

ESL craziness
Spurs sack Mourhino
Liverpool move on from Koop, more like Klopp is mentally and physically sapped.

What else is left to come today?

Arsnil

The cock has flown!!!

China1

Dissenter it’s not aimed at your discerning real American football fans

It’s aimed at attracting the casuals

Also the bashing is because the ESL model is the American League format which is wank

Dissenter

China1 and gunnerman
The ESL story is about narratives sn who you choose to believe.

At the end of the day, it’s a strategic blunder made in a desperate act of negotiations.
It’s a very bad hand played in a game of corporate poker.
No more than that. It’s an act designed to force the other dealers hands in in bargaining.
It’s not workable, just gesturing.

Let’s not go overboard and but all the nonsense that both sides are serving.

TR7

I posted today that any credible resistance to ESL has to come from the likes of Fergie, Wenger, Klopp, Pep etc otherwise the billionaire owners will have their way. Imagine John Henry’s Klopp resigning from Pool job and joining a Budnesliga club for the spirit of the game, it will be massive or Pep leaving City and going back to managing either Bayern or PSG. It will be massive.

Dissenter

* Let’s not go overboard and buy all the nonsense that both sides are serving

andy1886

ES – Yes, City have more resources than anyone else. Yet they don’t win the league every year and their record in the CL is poor given those resources.

Clubs CAN move up the food chain even those on moderate incomes. Leicester are the obvious example, Brighton are in the PL while the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, Derby and Birmingham are languishing in the lower reaches of the Championship – bigger clubs all of them.

FYI the ‘Greed is Good’ mantra went out of vogue decades ago.

China1

Maybe dissenter, I don’t have any problem with Americans

But this ESL is a rubbish, American style model which is being pushed in no small part by American owners with no interest or idea about the game.

Whether it’s just a badly played negotiation or whatever I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out. But it’s just absolutely shit and people can’t let it slide

Jamie

Don the school-leaver giving everyone his red hot medical and legal expertise on covid deaths and human rights abuses.

Honestly this is more hilarious than Jose’s sacking.

China1

Man less than 24h passed and there are already big casualties!

Mourinho out… is Klopp really on the out too???

gunnerman

Dissenter

I hope it’s only gesturing but it’s really done in poor taste and in absolute disregard for the spirit of sporting competition.

Carts

I remember these rumour about super league doing to rounds every other year then getting poo-poo’d. It’s a mammoth power grab, no doubt, but how much of this was indirectly caused by UEFA? Just look at the re-jigged format that proposed. I highly doubt the big clubs were involved to the extent that they all gave their blessings. I’m not saying I’m on-board with the super league, the fact you can’t get relegated is where I draw the line cos to me, that’s the hallmark of a US take over. All we need is for invitational MLS involvement then we’re… Read more »

gunnerman

Also very disrepectful to all the other clubs

TR7

Ander Herrera speaks out against ESL, need many many more players to follow suit.

gnarleygeorge9

Pedro

You said the Kroenkes aren’t the issue. Well, this is what you get. The Kroenkes should have pissed off years ago, but hardly anyone ever mentions them in the scheme of things.

But if there is a Top 12 Club competition, The Arsenal deserves to be in it. But to the naysayers who have been silent about Stan, you are to blame for this development because you didn’t put up, you shut up!

Dissenter

TR7
Maybe Andr Herrera should speak out against the massive cruelty his Qatari club owners are extending to her worlkers building venues for the World Cup.
The same World Cup that was win through bribery. Remember the claim that Qatar will build massive air conditioners to cool the 50 degree centigrade air in the Qatari summer?

Let’s stop reacting to the narratives and agendas that we are being served.

China1

‘Kane to ask to leave if spurs miss out on CL
‘ headline news

I know ‘arry can’t read but surely someone needs to tell him 😂😂😂😂😂😂

AFC Forever

Rich

Yep agree.

As the terrible implementation of VAR has proved, fans are treated with sheer contempt – ideology has yet again proven to be totally different to reality.

Biggles

I wonder if anybody on the planet put a quid on this top 4: #1 Leicester #2 West Ham #3 Everton #4 Leeds I’m sure the Premier League and UEFA rules would allow expulsion or docking of points. I’m furious with Arsenal for signing up to this and I really would rather see us punished than see the game collapse. Let the clubs go ahead with this, then punish. It’ll certainly shake up European football, because let’s be honest, Arsenal as an exhibition only club not being able to play or at least win any domestic isn’t a team I’m… Read more »

NORG

A lot of players from the the teams linked with the ESL will have break clauses built into their contracts should the teams no longer be in the version of a premier league. Tim Lewis will be extremely busy.

Graham

I assume PSGs not signing up and Man City only joining last minute (if the rumours Saturday were right – and they have proved very accurate so far) is due to the risk of stricter FFP regulations. Given this is very driven by US sports franchise owners salary caps, transfer restrictions etc are I suspect part of this.

Leedsgunner

There’s a very easy way for FIFA and UEFA to kill this European Super League proposal dead in the water. Announce that any player that that plays in a club that participates it will not be eligible to play in the upcoming World Cup and all other World Cups as well as associated national cup competitions such as the Asian Cup, the African Cup of Nations and the UEFA European Championships. Players in these top 12 clubs will refuse to cooperate and the ESL will be dead in the water. Plus, place a complete transfer ban on all these clubs… Read more »

gunnerman
into the red

It is reported that Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U are the ringleaders in this coup. Well, what a surprise – the clubs owned by American billionaires have been secretly hatching a plan for some time to create a NFL version of European football. Billionaires always need more money, apparently. It is also reported that you, me and all the regular Arsenal fans are now referred to as ‘legacy’ fans. The owners aren’t interested in these legacy fans, they are interested in what they call ‘future’ fans. These people live in Asia, the Middle East and America. They number hundreds of… Read more »

Lacaqualidie

Three Premier League clubs – Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur – have confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that they have resigned from the European Club Association. The ECA is the body that represents all the clubs in Uefa and is the only one officially recognised by European football’s governing organisation. Quitting the ECA is an aggressive step and significant move towards the formation of the proposed European Super League. The ECA held an emergency meeting on Sunday evening about the biggest threat football has faced but the clubs did not attend and have now all formally resigned. Three other… Read more »

James wood.

Harry K now stay’s.?

Graham

So who is everyone switching their allegiance to – given Arsenal as we know it no longer exists. I assume everyone is switching?

Major_Jeneral

Via @brfootball
Weniger in 2009: “Maybe in 10 years, you will have a European League… The money that will be coming in from the Champions League will not be enough for some clubs’

Wenger in 2018: it is inevitable… To share money between the big clubs and the small clubs will become a problem.

Foxy

A big concern to me about this new ESL which also applies to the proposed new CL format is the big increase in games when added to the existing domestic leagues and ever increasing number of internationals. For example to win the ESL you would need to play between 23 and 25 games compared to 13 for the current CL . A team like Arsenal would have no easy games and our poor squad unless dramatically strengthened would have no hope of effectively competing in both the ESL and our UK domestic competitions.

China1

Foxy also away games would usually be on the continent so you’d need to rotate even more

Basically you’d have a first team for the ESL and a youth/squad team for the domestic games

into the red

Looking back, you can see how English football was the trojan horse for this. We had such lax rules and regulations that foreign owners could easily snap up clubs, through engineered share buy outs, even at the expense of debt loading on to the clubs themselves. The dominance of the EPL, through TV money, combined with the new owners then gave them a powerful platform to build a European NFL – because Spanish and Italian clubs in particular were getting heavily into debt with their increased spending on players to compete, but without the EPL TV money. So they could… Read more »

gunnerman
Rich

Most people can deal with a new competition that has no history What’s really hard to stomach is a new competition, with no competition The idea a handful of clubs can freeze out competition is insane Protectionism whether it’s at state level, or at corporate level, produce exactly the same results, which is monopolies Corporate monopolies and state monopolies are exactly the same thing A free market based on fair competition, produces lower prices, better service, more consumer choice, and the need to continually look for progress and innovation Protectionism produces higher prices, no consumer choice, worse service, and no… Read more »

into the red

Whatever you think about Wenger’s later years at Arsenal, you surely can’t deny his love for the game and its founding principles, and his wish to keep its soul. Not only does he love the game, he understands politics and economics, and speaks a lot of sense.

Leedsgunner

This way in Kronke’s mind Arsenal is guaranteed a place in the top table without the inconvenience of having to work for it. Absolutely no need for him to spend another pound in supporting financially the club he supposedly owns. If this ESL proposal goes through and becomes reality, let’s not kid ourselves, we will never win it because our owners will not spend the money necessary this new elite competition. We will just make up numbers in this competition. We have become the new Whipping Boys for the real big boys of Club football. I note that AC Milan… Read more »

China1

Gazidis? Someone on a blog somewhere once told me he was legit

into the red

Juventus and Man U shares have gone up 10%. This is the only news their owners will be interested in, not the universal outrage and disgust.

Lacaqualidie

Into the Red – spot on with that analysis of the PL and how lax UK laws were in protecting the game.

Karsa

Both sides are in it for the money. UEFA and the Super League care about cash and cash only. Neither care about football heritage.

This move is the opening gambit. A compromise will be arrived at no doubt.

AFC Forever

I agree with Dissenter, there is a lot of posturing here. Nonetheless, it has all been presented poorly by the clubs and has shown a lack of respect to fans.

Just like VAR.

These decisions are never considered or taken by football people but by people who work in football. That is one of the reasons why they are so badly presented; they actually don’t care about what fans want.

Spurs unhappy with Maureen and sack him. Arteta fucks up worse than Emery…..let’s give the guy time. We call ourselves a big club 🤣🤣🤣. No wonder kroenke wants to join the super league, easy money and don’t have to do much for it

Saladin

Hey man, can you guys stop all the shit talking about the American fans? Majority of us have grown up with the traditional English Football and do not want any part of this Super League or the Korenke Satan club. I probably should have taken a big ol dump on the roof top of his Rams stadium when I was working on it as an Engineer last year.

LoveSausage

This is what you get when you allow American sports billionaires to own football clubs. And this is not American bashing, it’s just a fact that’s based on a core difference between European and American sports. In Europe, sports are an open competition with money and entertainment layered on top. Over here, professional sports are entertainment cartels. They sell a sports product that competes with the next Marvel movie. They have franchise owners whose primary goal is to increase the value of the cartel. New franchises are added and old ones are moved around the country based on this goal.… Read more »