The 63 year old Frenchman has been at the receiving end of
fans and critics alike for quite some time now. His inexplicable mulishness to
hold on transfer money has been donning headlines, which in terms of
viewership, stands at par with Suarez’s loyalty debates or Bale’s valuation by
pundits. Arsene Wenger, a veteran of 16 EPL seasons, has been branded as the most
penny-pinching managers of his period. The dusty trophy cabinet and the
heartbreaking season opener hasn’t helped his cause either. Worsening his
situation further is the injury list which left him with no more than 8 fit
players for the tie against Fenerbache. However, Wenger did deliver when it
mattered the most with a 3-0 pounding of the Turkish giants.
An economics major
and a very shrewd manager when it comes to assets, Wenger has a unique
marketing policy which has driven Arsenal all throughout these years to being
the 4th richest club in the world despite winning no silverware in
the last 8 years. A look at Wenger’s finance reports explains the mysterious
faith the Arsenal board holds in him inspite of all the criticism and
infidelity of the seasoned fans.
2011-2012-
The 2010-2011 season ended in a dismal fashion with Arsenal
struggling to finish fourth. This is in sharp contrast to the fact that Arsenal
were top of the table in December and were one point off league leaders
Manchester United till February. The biggest heartbreak came when Arsenal were
beaten by Birmingham in the League Cup final to shatter the dreams of a
silverware which has eluded the club long since.
Rising
season ticket prices and the trophyless stint were affecting the season ticket
sales. A close look at Wenger’s transfer policy reveals the unparalleled
marketing mantra the custodian devised to save the club’s finances.
Arsenal were heavily linked with a host of players, Pepe
Reina, Eden Hazard, Phillipe Mexes, Subotic to name a few. These big names
propelled the season ticket sales and on the last week of transfer activity
Wenger contended himself with Arteta, Metesacker, Benayoun and Santos and Gervinho and OX being
his other signings. A look at all these players wages with their current clubs
suggest that the rumours were just a coup to propel the season ticket sales.
Wenger’s bids for these players were also drastically low considering their
evaluation in the market.
Considering the
miserly policy Wenger follows when it comes to wages, there was no way he was
going to flush out a demaded £120k for Reina and £110k for Mexes. Infact, Robin
Van Persie was the highest paid Arsenal player at that time with wages of £
85000 p.w.
So, Wenger effectively managed to draw £11.5 mn from
transfers as profit and managed to meet season ticket targets. Arsenal ended
the season with £37 mn as profit (pre-tax), the highest by any EPL club!
2012-2013-
Another trophyless
stint, a bottom of the table experience before being saved by the heroics of
Van Persie and the departure of star players like RVP and Song meant Wenger
again had to come up with a marketing mantra to meet up his season ticket sales
and as history has it, Wenger followed the same strategy (big names link up).
Arsenal was in the news for pursuit of Nuri Sahin and Eden
Hazard. As expected, it was also just a coup. Wenger was all throughout aware
of Eden’s demand of £ 185000 p.w and Sahin’s £ 115000 p.w but still kept on the
pursuit so as to keep himself in the news and expectedly conceded them to rival
clubs towards the end of transfer window when season ticket sales were almost
done. Arsenal eventually signed Cazorla, Podolski and Girourd. However, a close
look at Arsenal’s transfers show that they were still in profit.
Wenger managed £3.5 mn as profit from transfer revenues and
a £ 18 mn profit (half yearly, 2013) with the clubs cash reserves at a stunning
£123.3 mn!
The 2013 summer rumours of Suarez and Higuain were a leaf
out of Wenger’s history book. Higuain was already earning £ 135000 p.w for Real
Madrid and Suarez £125000 p.w. while Arsenal’s highest paid player ( Walcott) stands
at £100000 p.w. leave aside Samuel Etoo (£ 300000 p.w). Wenger’s philia to
transfer and wage cashes implies the long followed marketing strategy is in
practice. The same trend is seen with clubs like Liverpool. With no Champions
League to lure fans, Liverpool also associates itself with big names only to
see its so-called targets leave for rival clubs.
Despite, all the criticism Wenger stands high. 8 trophyless
years couldn’t prevent Arsenal from being the 4th richest club and 6th
in terms of value. Erection of the Emirates Stadium has been a key factor
behind the flow of revenue for Arsenal and Wenger has been rightly credited as
the mastermind behind all these. Wenger has also been credited with bringing a
new dimension to the game. The “Groom and sell” policy reaped huge benefits
financially though it didn’t go down well with the fans.
Its heartbreaking to see the custodian being criticized by
those who once worshipped him. A couple of good signings and a ”Fabregas” from
the reserves would once again restore Arsenal as the dominant force it used to
be and there is no doubt that Wenger can turn tides.
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