A message to Mr Ivan Gazidis

 

[I’ll be sending this off to Ivan Gazidis’ email today at igazidis@arsenal.co.uk]

Dear Mr Ivan Gazidis,

It is with a heavy heart that I am having to write this message to you. I have been an Arsenal fan for nearly 30 years and never before have I been more detached, more apathetic and felt less affinity with the club I fell in love with aged just 5.

You see, to real fans, Arsenal isn’t just a club, it’s a way of life, it’s something that permeates your very being, you don’t choose Arsenal, Arsenal chooses you.

Now, I won’t go into the minutiae as to why I think Arsene Wenger should no longer be the Arsenal manager. That road is well trodden and abundantly clear given results on the pitch. Amidst a decade of embarrassing defeats, constant excuses and arrogant rhetoric, the question is no longer is Arsene the right man for the job, the question is why has the board not deemed his position untenable?

In 2011, you said, “Arsene is accountable to the fans- they ultimately make judgement. If you are seeing the relationship between the fans and the manager break down over time that is unsustainable”.  The relationship between millions of fans worldwide and Arsene Wenger is now broken and in my opinion irreparable. So why have your words fallen on deaf ears? Is it because you face a political, internal battle with the board? If so, perhaps now is the time to show some courage and leadership that transcends a standard CEO role and leans more towards a moral purpose.

I’m not naive enough to ignore the fact that Arsenal FC in the modern day is also a business. To that end, I truly believe Arsene Wenger is damaging the Arsenal ‘brand’.  I am sure you are aware of the meteoric rise in popularity of Arsenal Fan TV and never before have Arsenal fan’s opinions had such a vast Global reach. Many millions watch each week. Sponsors will undoubtedly be aware of the deep rooted problems at the heart of the club. Will they want their own brands to be associated with a club that is unstable, toxic and uncertain of its own identity? Of course not. Key sponsorship deals are up for renewal very soon and the business impact will now be felt. Don’t wait until it is too late.

However, what is of most concern to me is the divide all of this has caused within the fan base. I am sure you are aware of the fighting between our fans, both in the stands, outside the ground and on Social media. This is not only unacceptable and incomprehensible, it is a modern day tragedy. I’ve heard stories of parents no longer willing to take their kids to Arsenal games anymore through fear of other Arsenal fans attacking them verbally and/or physically. My biggest fear is something terrible happening like a loss of life. We cannot and MUST NOT let that happen.  Arsenal FC is a right of passage, often a conduit for bonding between father (usually, but not restricted to) and child. If you break this tradition you start to restrict oxygen to the heart of Arsenal FC and before you know it, the heart will stop beating. That will truly be the end.

So Mr Gazidis, if you read this, I hope it stirs something inside you to act now. Not next year or in two years time, but now. Arsene Wenger MUST NOT get another contract. Arsenal fans have had enough and we would all like our club back. In your capable hands our fate now rests. Please do not let us down.

Best,