Continuing with our "Fan Focus"
features we have caught up with Arsenal Blogger Arse Blog to discus the clubs
importance of acting swiftly in the transfer market and how the Clubs
Online products are going out to reach a increasingly global fan base.
Ahead of the final game of the season, with a Champion's league decider against
West Brom at The Hawthorns on Sunday.
TDF-
Arsenal have planned an extensive pre-season this year Touring South-East Asia,
including match up with Man City at the Birds-nest stadium in Beijing. Do you
feel that these extensive tours take a toll on the sides preparations for the
season, ultimately leading to a poor start of the season
AB- Not really. Arsenal have spent years going to a
sedate, remote pre-season camp in Austria and we've hardly been full of
trophies in recent years. Given the business class travel etc I don't think
there's really any impact on the team from a footballing point of view. And
because of the commercial deals we're tied into until 2014 then I think finding
as many of ways as possible of increasing our commercial income is a
good idea.
TDF-Arsenal have already sealed the signing of Lucas Podolski
for the new season, bearing in mind that last season the side where forced to
do the majority of there transfer dealings in a 24 hour window, how important
is it that the club concludes it's business dealings as early as possible this
summer?
AB- I think in any season the ideal situation would be to do
your business as quickly as possible and get the players settled in before the
start of the campaign. Clearly though lessons have be learned from last year
when the inaction of the summer had a big impact on the season. The Euros will
play a part too, players away with their countries will not usually be allowed
have their focus taken away by transfer business, so it might take longer to do
deals for players involved, but overall I'd love to see the club act swiftly
and decisively, for a change.
TDF-How has the Arsenal Player online TV system been taken to by
the fans? Do you find it a worthwhile addition to Arsenal's online offering to
fans?
AB- I can't speak for others fans but I like Arsenal Player. I mostly just use it
for press conferences (pre and post games) but I'm sure many of the
interviews/features are very popular given the demand for Arsenal related
content. Especially for our fans across the world, in a pre-season where the
club will be having preseason games in two key markets for the club, Nigeria
& Malaysia.
AB-I think Champions League football is obviously very important, in
order to keep the players you have, and attract a certain calibre of new
player, not to mention the financial benefits. I don't agree with Wenger when
he says it's a trophy but I wonder if Liverpool would swap the Carling Cup for
a place in the top four. I suspect they would.
As for the
financial side of things, we cannot compete with City, Chelsea or even United.
Clearly selling your best players is not a sensible or sustainable way of doing
business, but the reasons for their sales were generally not financial. If the
club have been clever it's getting great money for players who wanted to leave
for one reason or another
TDF-Finally with two games to go this season do you think that
Arsenal are still in the box seat for Champion's league qualification, despite
surges from Newcastle and Spurs?
There's
only 1 game to go now and amazingly it's still in our hands. I'm delighted
we've got the chance on Sunday against West Brom, although I can't claim to be
overly confident that we're going to take it. Fingers crossed.
Thanks
again to Andrew at Arseblog with the answers. As a Brucie Bonus Arsenal
realeased a new video to promote the release of there new kit. Have
alook at the video below, including Arsene Wenger's motor!
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