Monday, August 20, 2012

Extra Time - RVP, Arsenal and the colour of Money


In an epiphany that is all too familiar to many Toronto sports fans, one must most definitely and irrevocably conclude that most soccer clubs, even some of the biggest one, are simply a business. The events of the summer transfer window, when taken with previous ones, demonstrate quite clearly, that for a large number of clubs, despite global fanbases and regular flirtations with silverware, the motivation is purely financial. Clubs being businesses is nothing new. But, while it was understood that remaining in contention for trophies was still the top priority, that is now no longer the case.

Clubs exist primarily to make money. Bar a few super rich clubs, whose ambitions are mainly founded on winning things, most clubs, realizing that they cannot compete and that regular triumphs are something they cannot rely on with any regularity, have basically thrown in the towel. They seek to pad their own bottom line, reduce debt and increase the gap between money spent and income generated.

Prestige, status, loyalty and fan happiness have all taken a backseat to financial sense. Clubs are brands which make decisions that prioritize financial sense first and foremost. The recent transfer of Dutch striker Robin Van Persie, from English Premiership club Arsenal to Manchester United is the most stark example of this phenomenon and ultimate proof of this development. Despite his age (29) and dodgy injury record, Van Persie was, in addition to being the captain of his side, their biggest star and most productive performer coming off his best ever season.  A season in which he was voted the best by both the press and his peers. And one where he singlehandedly led Arsenal to the promised land of Champions League football with a league best 30 goals. One of the best ever seasons in the league by any player, ever.

While Arsenal have not won a trophy in seven years or been in a major final for six, they have still managed to top the league table and challenge for the league a few times in recent history, with a four point lead at the start of March four years ago their closest tilt at the title. They are no longer favourites for a competition they traded with arch rivals United for seven years between 1998 and 2004, but are still considered one of the elite. Moreover, for most fans, the latter club is still Arsenal's biggest rivals, despite the gulf in status, financial pull and silverware between the two.

So, Van Persie's sale to United was nothing short of epic. And fan reaction was apoplectic. While the Arsenal board and manager Arsene Wenger can point to the 24 million sale price as excellent business for a wantaway, injury prone, 29 year old; fans can point to his departure to a club they love to hate, and eagerly circle fixtures in the calendar against, as a most heinous betrayal. Perhaps a move to some other club like Manchester City or even Juventus, both reportedly interested, would have been more palatable to the fanbase, but seeing their top performer go to a long established domestic foe, arguably the biggest such rival in England, was unacceptable.

However therein lies the conundrum. Fans need to realise that Arsenal are no longer a club of the fans. It exists to make money off of them - with ticket prices, the highest in the World. Their passions and desires come second to a financial behemoth for whom dollars and pounds are the driving force behind its day to day operations, not trophies and cups. Player loyalty and even captaincy have long been suspected to be fickle things. At Arsenal they are decidedly so, with several notable top players and four club captains being sold in the past seven years. Tony Adams was captain of Arsenal for 14 years, the most recent incumbent, Van Persie lasted just one. Club captaincy is simply another bargaining chip tossed into the mix to keep burgeoning stars in the stable till they are sold to the highest bidder or the player's choice of destination. Frankly, it would not be inaccurate to remark that the North London giants, England's third most successful club ever, are now Europe's biggest and best feeder club. I'm not saying that it is, but that it is possible to consider it so.

From a financial point of view the Dutchman's sale made excellent sense and while those who watched the Gunners labour to a 0-0 stalemate at home against Sunderland on the opening day of the new 2012-13 season will point to the shortsightedness of the decision from a football point of view, Arsenal the business, cannot turn down that kind of money for a player, especially one who wants to leave.

Frenchman Wenger, equal parts genius and inept, depending on which pole of the fanbase one consults, has long stressed finishing in the top four, as a trophy. This is because from a monetary point of view, it is. Arsenal cannot match the financial pull of Chelsea and Manchester United; and with super rich Manchester City the latest club to have bought their way to success, there are three clubs with a massive and crucial monetary advantage over Arsenal. And a vicious circle ensues because those same three clubs are best placed for success, can attract the best players as a result, and will offer them the most competitive salaries. Arsenal, quite frankly, are doomed.

So, fans need to step back, realise that their club is merely a brand, a company, a corporation who wants more money to come in then go out; and simply accept that while the odd trophy challenge is possible, the complete lack of major silverware, is in fact, far more probable.  Finishing fourth is the only realistic ambition the club can have. And it intends to make as much money finishing fourth as it can. To expect anything more borders on foolishness, no matter how passionate one's support is.