Arsène Wenger:
🗣️ “There was a time we had £90 million turnover and we had to pay back £22 million per year for the stadium. I couldn’t sleep because we had to qualify for the Champions League to pay back the money.”
🗣️ “We had to sell our best players. Other clubs came in with lots of money but we were on the same level from 2007 to 2016.”
This is why so many Arsenal fans will forever defend Wenger.
While rivals were spending freely, Arsenal were carrying the weight of the Emirates project on their backs. Every summer felt like survival. Every top-four finish felt like a trophy. Every season, Wenger had to replace world-class players while keeping Arsenal competitive enough to secure Champions League football.
🔴 Sold stars. 🔴 Balanced the books. 🔴 Built a world-class stadium. 🔴 Kept Arsenal among Europe's elite.
Many managers would've walked away. Wenger stayed and carried the club through its most difficult financial era.
The trophies are part of his legacy. The fact Arsenal emerged from that period stronger, richer, and ready to compete again is the other part.
Without Wenger's sacrifices, there is no Arsenal of today.
📲 Alexis Sánchez Sends Heartfelt Message to Arsenal After UCL Final Defeat
🗣️: "To everyone connected with Arsenal, I just want to say one thing: be proud.
I know tonight is painful. Losing a Champions League final always hurts, and right now the disappointment will feel overwhelming. But when the emotions settle, I hope the players, the staff, and especially the supporters remember what this team has achieved.
You won the Premier League. You fought your way to the biggest match in club football. You represented Arsenal on the grandest stage. One difficult night does not erase an incredible season.
To the fans, I know how much this club means to you because I felt that love every time I wore the shirt. You have supported this team through good moments and bad moments, and once again you showed the world why Arsenal supporters are among the most passionate in football.
To the players, keep your heads high. Finals can be won and finals can be lost, but reaching them requires quality, sacrifice, and belief. You have given your supporters memories they will never forget.
Football can be cruel. Sometimes the result does not reflect the journey. But the journey matters. The fight matters. The badge matters.
Arsenal will be back. Arsenal always comes back.
And to every Arsenal fan around the world: never stop believing, never stop supporting, and never stop loving this club.
Today may be a day of sadness, but the future remains bright.
For me, Arsenal will always be special. For me, Arsenal will always be family.
And for me, Arsenal is the best team in the world. ❤️"
This is a man called Danny Bassett - I don’t have a better picture of him. I didn’t even know his second name until recently.
He stood a couple of rows behind me at the Emirates. Always topless and always bringing the energy. We’d hug when we scored and shake hands and have a quick chat if we won.
Beyond that, we didn’t know each other at all, but he was part of my Arsenal experience for close to a decade.
Danny died suddenly last summer and he didn’t get to experience this season. I thought about him a lot today. I hope you enjoyed it mate. You’re missed.