THIS SUNDAY THE LOS ANGELES RAMS PLAY IN SUPER BOWL LVI, THEIR SECOND APPEARANCE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME OF THE NFL IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND FOURTH UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF EDWARD STANLEY KROENKE. KROENKE HAS BEEN A PART-OWNER, CHAIRMAN AND FULL OWNER OF THE RAMS OVER THE LAST 27 YEARS SINCE THE FRANCHISE MOVED FROM LA TO ST LOUIS, MISSOURI IN THE MID-1990'S, AND UNDER HIS OWNERSHIP THE TEAM HAS BEEN REVOLUTIONISED.
THE RAMS WERE ESTABLISHED IN CLEVELAND, OHIO IN 1936 BY BUSINESSMAN Homer Marshman BEFORE MOVING TO LOS ANGELES IN 1946, THE YEAR AFTER THEY HAD WON THE NFL CHAMPIONSHIP, PAVING THE WAY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CLEVELAND BROWNS. BETWEEN 1946 AND 1994 THE RAMS PLAYED AT THE LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM AND ANAHEIM STADIUM, BUT ONLY REACHING 1 SUPER BOWL, WHICH THEY LOST IN 1980.
THE RAMS WERE ESTABLISHED IN CLEVELAND, OHIO IN 1936 BY BUSINESSMAN Homer Marshman BEFORE MOVING TO LOS ANGELES IN 1946, THE YEAR AFTER THEY HAD WON THE NFL CHAMPIONSHIP, PAVING THE WAY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CLEVELAND BROWNS. BETWEEN 1946 AND 1994 THE RAMS PLAYED AT THE LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM AND ANAHEIM STADIUM, BUT ONLY REACHING 1 SUPER BOWL, WHICH THEY LOST IN 1980.
By 1995, the Rams franchise had withered to a shadow of its former self. Accusations and excuses were constantly thrown back and forth between the Rams fan base, ownership, and local politicians. Many in the fan base blamed the ownership of Georgia Frontiere for the franchise's woes, while ownership cited the outdated stadium and withering fan support.
Frontiere finally gave up and decided to move the Rams franchise to St. Louis, MISSOURI. THE PROCESS OF MOVING WAS PROLONGED BY THE NFL COMMISSIONER REJECTING THE MOVE AND A LEAGUE VOTE AGAINST IT. THE MOVE EVENTUALLY WENT THROUGH AND THE RAMS WOULD RETURN TO FORMER GLORIES IN A DIFFERENT CITY AND STATE.
IN 1999 THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL, DEFEATING TENNESSEE TITANS 23-16 IN ATLANTA. OVER 20 YEARS THE RAMS FORMED A BOND WITH THE FANS AND CITY OF ST LOUIS, AND THE MOVE BACK TO LOS ANGELES WAS CONTROVERSIAL, BUT ONE OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AS THE OWNER, STAN KROENKE SOUGHT TO RETURN THE TEAM TO ITS ROOTS.
IN 1999 THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL, DEFEATING TENNESSEE TITANS 23-16 IN ATLANTA. OVER 20 YEARS THE RAMS FORMED A BOND WITH THE FANS AND CITY OF ST LOUIS, AND THE MOVE BACK TO LOS ANGELES WAS CONTROVERSIAL, BUT ONE OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AS THE OWNER, STAN KROENKE SOUGHT TO RETURN THE TEAM TO ITS ROOTS.
THE RAMS RETURNED TO LA AHEAD OF THE 2016 SEASON AFTER A VOTE OF THE LEAGUE ALLOWED IT AND FROM 2016 TO 2019 THE TEAM PLAYED AT THE LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM WHILST THE INCREDIBLE SOFI STADIUM WAS BUILT IN INGLEWOOD. THE STADIUM WAS FUNDED BY KROENKE IN PARTNERSHIP STOCKBRIDGE CAPITAL GROUP, SHOWING HIS COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE OF THE RAMS, AND THE COMMUNITY THEY WERE GOING TO PLAY IN.
THE SOFI STADIUM IS BUILT PARTIALLY UNDER GROUND DUE TO HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE OF THE NEARBY LAX AIRPORT, AND IT HAS A SEATED CAPACITY OF 70,240 WHICH CAN BE EXPANDED TO OVER 100,000 FOR MAJOR EVENTS SUCH AS THE SUPER BOWL AND THE CEREMONIES OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES, AND MAKING IT THE LARGEST STADIUM BY CAPACITY IN THE NFL.
A FAMOUS FEATURE OF THE STADIUM IS THE VIDEO SCREEN MANUFACTURED BY SAMSUNG, an ovular, double-sided 4K HDR video board, the first of its kind, that is suspended from the roof over the field. Formerly known as "the Oculus" before a name change, the structure weighs 2.2 million pounds and displays 80 million pixels. The Infinity Screen also houses the stadium's 260-speaker audio system, as well as 56 5G wireless antennas.
THE SOFI STADIUM IS BUILT PARTIALLY UNDER GROUND DUE TO HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE OF THE NEARBY LAX AIRPORT, AND IT HAS A SEATED CAPACITY OF 70,240 WHICH CAN BE EXPANDED TO OVER 100,000 FOR MAJOR EVENTS SUCH AS THE SUPER BOWL AND THE CEREMONIES OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES, AND MAKING IT THE LARGEST STADIUM BY CAPACITY IN THE NFL.
A FAMOUS FEATURE OF THE STADIUM IS THE VIDEO SCREEN MANUFACTURED BY SAMSUNG, an ovular, double-sided 4K HDR video board, the first of its kind, that is suspended from the roof over the field. Formerly known as "the Oculus" before a name change, the structure weighs 2.2 million pounds and displays 80 million pixels. The Infinity Screen also houses the stadium's 260-speaker audio system, as well as 56 5G wireless antennas.
STAN KROENKE FIRST TOOK A STAKE IN ARSENAL IN 2007 AND BY 2011 HE WAS THE MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER. THIS PERIOD OF TIME WAS WHEN DAVID DEIN LEFT THE CLUB AND ONE MAJOR CRITICISM I HAVE OF THE KROENKE'S IS THE FACT THEY RELIED SO HEAVILY UPON ARSENE WENGER, THEY SHOULD HAVE PUT SOMEONE IN PLACE TO REPLACE THE ROLE DAVID DEIN HAD AND THE CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP HE HAD WITH THE MANAGER.
THIS VOID CREATED ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON THE MANAGER AS WELL AS TRYING TO BALANCE THE BOOKS IN THE YEARS POST LEAVING HIGHBURY, WHILST TRYING TO CONTEND ON FOUR FRONTS. A MAJOR RESTRICTION ON ARSENE FOR YEARS WAS THE BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS TO BALANCE THE BOOKS AS THE CLUB PAID BACK LOANS IT TOOK OUT TO COVER THE COST OF THE EMIRATES STADIUM BUILD.
HOWEVER BECAUSE THE MAN WAS A GENIUS THE MANAGED TO ASSEMBLE ANOTHER TEAM CAPABLE OF CHALLENGING FOR THE TITLE IN THE 2015-16 SEASON, WHEN WE FINISHED SECOND IN THE YEAR LEICESTER SHOCKED THE WORLD AND WON THE PREMIER LEAGUE. I DO HAVE TO SAY THOUGH THAT MUCH OF THAT TEAM WAS FUNDED DURING THE ERA OF KROENKE MAJORITY SHAREHOLDING, WITH ALEXIS SANCHEZ (£35million), MESUT OZIL (£42.4mILLION), DANNY WELBECK (£16MILLION), SANTI CAZORLA (£15MILLION), OLIVIER GIROUD (£12MILLION), PETR CECH (£10MILLION), MOHAMED ELNENY (£7.4MILLION), GABRIEL PAULISTA (£11MILLION), CALUM CHAMBERS (£11MILLION) AND DAVID OSPINA (£4MILLION) ALL KEY MEMBERS OF THAT SQUAD, ALL BOUGHT SINCE KROENKE TOOK THE MAJORITY SHAREHOLDING.
MANY FANS SAW NOT WINNING THE LEAGUE IN 2016 AS A NEGATIVE, AND IT BECAME THAT BECAUSE WE FAILED TO BUILD UPON WHAT WE HAD ACHIEVED, AND ADDRESS THE FAILINGS WITHIN THE SQUAD AND TEAM FOLLOWING A TITLE CHALLENGE. THE LIKES OF GRANIT XHAKA AND SKHODRAN MUSTAFI WERE ADDED IN THE FOLLOWING SUMMER, PLAYERS WHICH NOT MANY OTHER TOP CLUBS WERE CHASING AND WHO DIDN'T STRENGTHEN THE TEAM.
INSTEAD OF PROGRESSING AND GOING ON TO REGAIN A PLACE AT THE TOP OF THE GAME, THE DECLINE BEGAN, AND DESPITE A MIRACLE FA CUP WIN ORCHESTRATED BY ARSENE WENGER IN 2017 WHEN WE DEFEATED MANCHESTER CITY IN THE SEMI-FINAL AND CHELSEA IN THE FINAL, ARSENAL MISSED OUT ON THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE ARSENE WENGER ERA.
WE MANAGED TO REACH THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE EUROPA LEAGUE IN 2018 BUT MISSED OUT ON THE TOP FOUR AGAIN AND ARSENAL ANNOUNCED THAT ARSENE WENGER WOULD BE LEAVING THE CLUB IN APRIL 2018.
THIS VOID CREATED ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON THE MANAGER AS WELL AS TRYING TO BALANCE THE BOOKS IN THE YEARS POST LEAVING HIGHBURY, WHILST TRYING TO CONTEND ON FOUR FRONTS. A MAJOR RESTRICTION ON ARSENE FOR YEARS WAS THE BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS TO BALANCE THE BOOKS AS THE CLUB PAID BACK LOANS IT TOOK OUT TO COVER THE COST OF THE EMIRATES STADIUM BUILD.
HOWEVER BECAUSE THE MAN WAS A GENIUS THE MANAGED TO ASSEMBLE ANOTHER TEAM CAPABLE OF CHALLENGING FOR THE TITLE IN THE 2015-16 SEASON, WHEN WE FINISHED SECOND IN THE YEAR LEICESTER SHOCKED THE WORLD AND WON THE PREMIER LEAGUE. I DO HAVE TO SAY THOUGH THAT MUCH OF THAT TEAM WAS FUNDED DURING THE ERA OF KROENKE MAJORITY SHAREHOLDING, WITH ALEXIS SANCHEZ (£35million), MESUT OZIL (£42.4mILLION), DANNY WELBECK (£16MILLION), SANTI CAZORLA (£15MILLION), OLIVIER GIROUD (£12MILLION), PETR CECH (£10MILLION), MOHAMED ELNENY (£7.4MILLION), GABRIEL PAULISTA (£11MILLION), CALUM CHAMBERS (£11MILLION) AND DAVID OSPINA (£4MILLION) ALL KEY MEMBERS OF THAT SQUAD, ALL BOUGHT SINCE KROENKE TOOK THE MAJORITY SHAREHOLDING.
MANY FANS SAW NOT WINNING THE LEAGUE IN 2016 AS A NEGATIVE, AND IT BECAME THAT BECAUSE WE FAILED TO BUILD UPON WHAT WE HAD ACHIEVED, AND ADDRESS THE FAILINGS WITHIN THE SQUAD AND TEAM FOLLOWING A TITLE CHALLENGE. THE LIKES OF GRANIT XHAKA AND SKHODRAN MUSTAFI WERE ADDED IN THE FOLLOWING SUMMER, PLAYERS WHICH NOT MANY OTHER TOP CLUBS WERE CHASING AND WHO DIDN'T STRENGTHEN THE TEAM.
INSTEAD OF PROGRESSING AND GOING ON TO REGAIN A PLACE AT THE TOP OF THE GAME, THE DECLINE BEGAN, AND DESPITE A MIRACLE FA CUP WIN ORCHESTRATED BY ARSENE WENGER IN 2017 WHEN WE DEFEATED MANCHESTER CITY IN THE SEMI-FINAL AND CHELSEA IN THE FINAL, ARSENAL MISSED OUT ON THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE ARSENE WENGER ERA.
WE MANAGED TO REACH THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE EUROPA LEAGUE IN 2018 BUT MISSED OUT ON THE TOP FOUR AGAIN AND ARSENAL ANNOUNCED THAT ARSENE WENGER WOULD BE LEAVING THE CLUB IN APRIL 2018.
REPLACING OUR GREATEST EVER MANAGER, WHO HAD BEEN AT THE CLUB FOR NEARLY 22 YEARS, WAS NEVER GOING TO BE AN EASY TASK, AND I HAVE TO SAY I WAS INITIALLY IMPRESSED BY THE APPOINTMENT OF UNAI EMERY. THE SPANIARD HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND HE CAME ACROSS AS A PASSIONATE AND PREPARED COACH, AND HE WAS OF AN AGE WHERE IF SUCCESSFUL, HE COULD TAKE THE TEAM FORWARD FOR MANY YEARS.
ON THE BACK OF THE APPOINTMENT OF EMERY THE OWNER SUPPORTED HIM BY DELIVERING OVER £70MILLION OF TRANSFER SPEND BRINGING IN BERND LENO, LUCAS TORREIRA, SOKRATIS AND MATTEO GUENDOUZI. ON THE FACE OF THINGS LENO AND TORREIRA WERE NEEDED SIGNINGS, A QUALITY GOALKEEPER AND A DYNAMIC MIDFIELDER, BUT SOKRATIS AND GUENDOUZI WERE UNDERWHELMING SIGNINGS. AND ON REFLECTION ONLY LENO REMAINS AT THE CLUB FOUR YEARS LATER, AND HE IS CERTAIN TO LEAVE IN THE COMING SUMMER.
EMERY'S PRIORITY WAS RETURNING ARSENAL TO THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, AND HE WOULD HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO DO IT, VIA THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE. IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE HE BEGAN WITH TWO VERY DIFFICULT GAMES, AT HOME TO MANCHESTER CITY AND AWAY TO CHELSEA, AND THE INEVITABLE TWO DEFEATS FOLLOWED, BUT HE WOULD GUIDE THE TEAM TO A 21-GAME UNBEATEN RUN IN ALL COMPETITIONS, AND WITH 7 GAMES REMAINING OF THE SEASON ARSENAL WERE IN THIRD PLACE IN THE LEAGUE TABLE. BUT A TRULY DISASTROUS RUN ENDED OUR HOPES OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL.
DEFEATS TO EVERTON, CRYSTAL PALACE, WOLVES AND LEICESTER ALONG WITH A DRAW AT HOME TO BRIGHTON SAW US FALL FROM THIRD TO FIFTH, MISSING OUT ON A DESPERATELY NEEDED RETURN TO THE TOP CLUB COMPETITION IN THE WORLD. THERE WOULD BE A CHANCE AT REDEMPTION IN BAKU WITH A EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL AGAINST CHELSEA. REACHING ANOTHER MAJOR EUROPEAN FINAL IS SOMEWHAT OF A SUCCESS FOR ARSENAL AND FOR EMERY, BUT WE PUT IN A DYSMAL DISPLAY TO LOSE 1-4 TO CHELSEA, AND OUR DREAMS WERE SHATTERED.
THE NEXT SUMMER WAS CRITICAL. THE TEAM NEEDED INVESTMENT ONCE AGAIN AND IT NEEDED TO BECOME COMPETITIVE. ANOTHER £138MILLION WAS SPENT BY THE OWNER, WITH NICOLAS PEPE, KIERAN TIERNEY, GABRIEL MARTINELLI, WILLIAM SALIBA AND DAVID LUIZ COMING IN. THESE SEEMED LIKE EXCITING AND NEEDED SIGNINGS, ADDING EXPERIENCE, YOUTH AND TALENT TO THE SQUAD, AND FOUR OF THESE SIGNINGS STILL REMAIN AT THE CLUB AND MOST OF THEM SHOULD BE PART OF THE FUTURE.
BUT THE SIGNINGS DIDN'T CHANGE OUR FORTUNES ON THE PITCH. A TRULY AWFUL START TO THE SEASON, WITH JUST 4 WINS IN THE FIRST 14 GAMES, SAW EMERY REMOVED AS MANAGER ON 29 NOVEMBER. THE TEAM WAS CLEARLY IN DECLINE, AS WAS THE CLUB.
WHEN ARSENAL FC MOVED FROM THEIR HOME OF 93 YEARS, HIGHBURY, TO THE EMIRATES STADIUM, IN JULY OF 2006 THE STADIUM WAS WORLD LEADING, IT WAS THE BEST STADIUM IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND AHEAD OF ITS TIME IN MANY WAYS. BUT FAST FORWARD 16 YEARS AND ITS CLEAR IT NEEDS LOVE AND ATTENTION, WITH MANY FANS NOTING ITS TIRED EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR.
OVER THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF THE STADIUM THE EMIRATES HOSTED BRAZIL INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL MATCHES ON 6 OCCASIONS INCLUDING MATCHES AGAINST ARGENTINA, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, ITALY, SWEDEN AND PORTUGAL. BUT SINCE 2011 THE STADIUM HAS HOSTED JUST 2 FURTHER INTERNATIONALS, AND APART FROM THE UPCOMING SEMI-FINAL OF THE 2022 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP THE EMIRATES HAS NOT MANAGED TO STAGE ANY MAJOR FOOTBALL FINAL OR MAJOR BOXING SHOW, UNLIKE THE TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM, WHEN IT STAGED THE JUSHUA-USYK SHOW LAST YEAR.
THE EMIRATES STADIUM IS NOW DWARFED IN CAPACITY BY WEMBLEY, TWICKENHAM, LONDON STADIUM AND TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM IN LONDON ALONE, AND IT IS NOT THE VENUE OF ICONIC EVENTS, OTHER THAN FOOTBALL, THAT IT SHOULD BE. ATTRACTING OTHER MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS AND SHOWS TO OUR STADIUM ENHANCES THE WORLDWIDE STATURE OF THE CLUB, NOT TO MENTION THE FINANCIAL WINDFALL WHICH WOULD CERTAINLY FOLLOW.
WITH THE UK AND IRELAND SEEMINGLY SET TO BID FOR EURO 2028 IT WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING DECISION IF THE EMIRATES WAS INCLUDED IN THE BID. UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF THE KROENKE'S ARSENAL HAVEN'T CAPITALISED UPON THEIR STATUS AS LONDON'S MOST HISTORICALLY SUCCESSFUL CLUB, BEST SUPPORTED CLUB OR ENHANCED THEIR WORLDWIDE REPUTATION BY BRINGING MAJOR EVENTS TO THE EMIRATES, NOT ONLY HAVE THE TEAM DECLINED ON THE PITCH, THE STADIUM HAS ALSO DECLINED.
ON THE BACK OF THE APPOINTMENT OF EMERY THE OWNER SUPPORTED HIM BY DELIVERING OVER £70MILLION OF TRANSFER SPEND BRINGING IN BERND LENO, LUCAS TORREIRA, SOKRATIS AND MATTEO GUENDOUZI. ON THE FACE OF THINGS LENO AND TORREIRA WERE NEEDED SIGNINGS, A QUALITY GOALKEEPER AND A DYNAMIC MIDFIELDER, BUT SOKRATIS AND GUENDOUZI WERE UNDERWHELMING SIGNINGS. AND ON REFLECTION ONLY LENO REMAINS AT THE CLUB FOUR YEARS LATER, AND HE IS CERTAIN TO LEAVE IN THE COMING SUMMER.
EMERY'S PRIORITY WAS RETURNING ARSENAL TO THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, AND HE WOULD HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO DO IT, VIA THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE. IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE HE BEGAN WITH TWO VERY DIFFICULT GAMES, AT HOME TO MANCHESTER CITY AND AWAY TO CHELSEA, AND THE INEVITABLE TWO DEFEATS FOLLOWED, BUT HE WOULD GUIDE THE TEAM TO A 21-GAME UNBEATEN RUN IN ALL COMPETITIONS, AND WITH 7 GAMES REMAINING OF THE SEASON ARSENAL WERE IN THIRD PLACE IN THE LEAGUE TABLE. BUT A TRULY DISASTROUS RUN ENDED OUR HOPES OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL.
DEFEATS TO EVERTON, CRYSTAL PALACE, WOLVES AND LEICESTER ALONG WITH A DRAW AT HOME TO BRIGHTON SAW US FALL FROM THIRD TO FIFTH, MISSING OUT ON A DESPERATELY NEEDED RETURN TO THE TOP CLUB COMPETITION IN THE WORLD. THERE WOULD BE A CHANCE AT REDEMPTION IN BAKU WITH A EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL AGAINST CHELSEA. REACHING ANOTHER MAJOR EUROPEAN FINAL IS SOMEWHAT OF A SUCCESS FOR ARSENAL AND FOR EMERY, BUT WE PUT IN A DYSMAL DISPLAY TO LOSE 1-4 TO CHELSEA, AND OUR DREAMS WERE SHATTERED.
THE NEXT SUMMER WAS CRITICAL. THE TEAM NEEDED INVESTMENT ONCE AGAIN AND IT NEEDED TO BECOME COMPETITIVE. ANOTHER £138MILLION WAS SPENT BY THE OWNER, WITH NICOLAS PEPE, KIERAN TIERNEY, GABRIEL MARTINELLI, WILLIAM SALIBA AND DAVID LUIZ COMING IN. THESE SEEMED LIKE EXCITING AND NEEDED SIGNINGS, ADDING EXPERIENCE, YOUTH AND TALENT TO THE SQUAD, AND FOUR OF THESE SIGNINGS STILL REMAIN AT THE CLUB AND MOST OF THEM SHOULD BE PART OF THE FUTURE.
BUT THE SIGNINGS DIDN'T CHANGE OUR FORTUNES ON THE PITCH. A TRULY AWFUL START TO THE SEASON, WITH JUST 4 WINS IN THE FIRST 14 GAMES, SAW EMERY REMOVED AS MANAGER ON 29 NOVEMBER. THE TEAM WAS CLEARLY IN DECLINE, AS WAS THE CLUB.
WHEN ARSENAL FC MOVED FROM THEIR HOME OF 93 YEARS, HIGHBURY, TO THE EMIRATES STADIUM, IN JULY OF 2006 THE STADIUM WAS WORLD LEADING, IT WAS THE BEST STADIUM IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND AHEAD OF ITS TIME IN MANY WAYS. BUT FAST FORWARD 16 YEARS AND ITS CLEAR IT NEEDS LOVE AND ATTENTION, WITH MANY FANS NOTING ITS TIRED EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR.
OVER THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF THE STADIUM THE EMIRATES HOSTED BRAZIL INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL MATCHES ON 6 OCCASIONS INCLUDING MATCHES AGAINST ARGENTINA, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, ITALY, SWEDEN AND PORTUGAL. BUT SINCE 2011 THE STADIUM HAS HOSTED JUST 2 FURTHER INTERNATIONALS, AND APART FROM THE UPCOMING SEMI-FINAL OF THE 2022 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP THE EMIRATES HAS NOT MANAGED TO STAGE ANY MAJOR FOOTBALL FINAL OR MAJOR BOXING SHOW, UNLIKE THE TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM, WHEN IT STAGED THE JUSHUA-USYK SHOW LAST YEAR.
THE EMIRATES STADIUM IS NOW DWARFED IN CAPACITY BY WEMBLEY, TWICKENHAM, LONDON STADIUM AND TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM IN LONDON ALONE, AND IT IS NOT THE VENUE OF ICONIC EVENTS, OTHER THAN FOOTBALL, THAT IT SHOULD BE. ATTRACTING OTHER MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS AND SHOWS TO OUR STADIUM ENHANCES THE WORLDWIDE STATURE OF THE CLUB, NOT TO MENTION THE FINANCIAL WINDFALL WHICH WOULD CERTAINLY FOLLOW.
WITH THE UK AND IRELAND SEEMINGLY SET TO BID FOR EURO 2028 IT WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING DECISION IF THE EMIRATES WAS INCLUDED IN THE BID. UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF THE KROENKE'S ARSENAL HAVEN'T CAPITALISED UPON THEIR STATUS AS LONDON'S MOST HISTORICALLY SUCCESSFUL CLUB, BEST SUPPORTED CLUB OR ENHANCED THEIR WORLDWIDE REPUTATION BY BRINGING MAJOR EVENTS TO THE EMIRATES, NOT ONLY HAVE THE TEAM DECLINED ON THE PITCH, THE STADIUM HAS ALSO DECLINED.
FOLLOWING THE INTERIM MANAGEMENT OF FREDDIE LJUNGBERG FOR 3 GAMES THE CLUB ANNOUNCED MIKEL ARTETA AS OUR NEW MANAGER, AND THIS WAS AN APPOINTMENT I FULLY BACKED. A FORMER CLUB CAPTAIN WHO HAD PLAYED UNDER ARSENE WENGER FOR 5 YEARS, AND SOMEONE WHO HAD EARNED A REPUTATION AS A GREAT COACH UNDER PEP GUARDIOLA AT MANCHESTER CITY, ARTETA IS A YOUNG ROOKIE MANAGER, BUT SOMEONE WHO COULD LEAD THE POST-WENGER ERA.
ARTETA MADE A DECENT START TO LIFE AS ARSENAL MANAGER, AND HIS FIRST VICTORY CAME ON NEW YEAR'S DAY 2020 AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED, ALWAYS A GOOD RESULT BEATING UNITED! THAT WAS THE START OF AN 8-GAME UNBEATEN RUN, WHICH BROUGHT STABILITY. BUT THEN THE WORLD CHANGED, WITH THE COVID19 PANDEMIC SEEING THE LEAGUE SEASON PAUSED IN MARCH. WHEN IT RESUMED IN JUNE ARSENAL HAD THE DAUNTING TASK OF FACING MANCHESTER CITY AT THE ETIHAD, AND OVER THE LAST 10 GAMES OF THE SEASON WE LOST 4 TIMES AND FINISHED IN 8TH PLACE. IT WAS OUR WORST LEAGUE FINISH SINCE 1995.
BUT ARTETA RESCUED THE SEASON BY GUIDING THE TEAM TO AN IMPROBABLE FA CUP SUCCESS, DEFEATING MANCHESTER CITY IN THE SEMI-FINALS AND CHELSEA IN THE FINAL TO MAINTAIN OUR RUN IN EUROPE. MIKEL HAD STABILISED THE TEAM AND WON US A TROPHY IN HALF A SEASON IN CHARGE. IN ARTETA'S FIRST SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW THE OWNERS ONCE AGAIN INVESTED, SPENDING JUST SHY OF £80MILLION, AND SECURING THE SIGNING OF THOMAS PARTEY, A MUCH SOUGHT-AFTER MIDFIELDER FROM ATLETICO MADRID.
DESPITE THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT ARSENAL SUFFERED THEIR WORST START EVER TO A PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON, AND ON BOXING DAY THEN FACED CHELSEA SITTING IN THE BOTTOM 4 OF THE LEAGUE. WITHOUT FANS IN THE EMIRATES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC ARTETA REMAINED IN A JOB, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT IF FANS WERE IN THE STADIUM HE WOULD NOT BE MANAGER NOW. INCREDIBLY THAT NIGHT ARSENAL PRODUCED A STUNNING DISPLAY TO DEFEAT CHELSEA, AND INJURIES TO ESTABLISHED PLAYERS MEANT EMILE SMITH-ROWE JOINED BUKAYO SAKA AND GABRIEL MARTINELLI IN THE TEAM. AND THAT WAS SEEMINGLY THE BIRTH OF A NEW PLAN FOR ARSENAL'S FUTURE, YOUTH.
ARSENAL ONCE AGAIN WENT ON AN 8-GAME UNBEATEN RUN IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE, BUT THEN SUFFERED ANOTHER TERRIBLE RUN, LOSING 5 OUT OF 12 GAMES TO STALL THEIR MOMENTUM AND SIT 10TH WITH 5 GAMES TO PLAY. A DYSMAL EXIT AT THE HANDS OF SOUTHAMPTON IN THE FA CUP SAW US THROW AWAY THE ONE TROPHY WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS IN OVER THE LAST 18 YEARS, BUT ARTETA RETAINED MY SUPPORT.
THEN ON 18 APRIL 2021 THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL WAS ROCKED BY BREAKING NEWS.
"Twelve of Europe’s leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.
ARTETA MADE A DECENT START TO LIFE AS ARSENAL MANAGER, AND HIS FIRST VICTORY CAME ON NEW YEAR'S DAY 2020 AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED, ALWAYS A GOOD RESULT BEATING UNITED! THAT WAS THE START OF AN 8-GAME UNBEATEN RUN, WHICH BROUGHT STABILITY. BUT THEN THE WORLD CHANGED, WITH THE COVID19 PANDEMIC SEEING THE LEAGUE SEASON PAUSED IN MARCH. WHEN IT RESUMED IN JUNE ARSENAL HAD THE DAUNTING TASK OF FACING MANCHESTER CITY AT THE ETIHAD, AND OVER THE LAST 10 GAMES OF THE SEASON WE LOST 4 TIMES AND FINISHED IN 8TH PLACE. IT WAS OUR WORST LEAGUE FINISH SINCE 1995.
BUT ARTETA RESCUED THE SEASON BY GUIDING THE TEAM TO AN IMPROBABLE FA CUP SUCCESS, DEFEATING MANCHESTER CITY IN THE SEMI-FINALS AND CHELSEA IN THE FINAL TO MAINTAIN OUR RUN IN EUROPE. MIKEL HAD STABILISED THE TEAM AND WON US A TROPHY IN HALF A SEASON IN CHARGE. IN ARTETA'S FIRST SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW THE OWNERS ONCE AGAIN INVESTED, SPENDING JUST SHY OF £80MILLION, AND SECURING THE SIGNING OF THOMAS PARTEY, A MUCH SOUGHT-AFTER MIDFIELDER FROM ATLETICO MADRID.
DESPITE THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT ARSENAL SUFFERED THEIR WORST START EVER TO A PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON, AND ON BOXING DAY THEN FACED CHELSEA SITTING IN THE BOTTOM 4 OF THE LEAGUE. WITHOUT FANS IN THE EMIRATES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC ARTETA REMAINED IN A JOB, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT IF FANS WERE IN THE STADIUM HE WOULD NOT BE MANAGER NOW. INCREDIBLY THAT NIGHT ARSENAL PRODUCED A STUNNING DISPLAY TO DEFEAT CHELSEA, AND INJURIES TO ESTABLISHED PLAYERS MEANT EMILE SMITH-ROWE JOINED BUKAYO SAKA AND GABRIEL MARTINELLI IN THE TEAM. AND THAT WAS SEEMINGLY THE BIRTH OF A NEW PLAN FOR ARSENAL'S FUTURE, YOUTH.
ARSENAL ONCE AGAIN WENT ON AN 8-GAME UNBEATEN RUN IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE, BUT THEN SUFFERED ANOTHER TERRIBLE RUN, LOSING 5 OUT OF 12 GAMES TO STALL THEIR MOMENTUM AND SIT 10TH WITH 5 GAMES TO PLAY. A DYSMAL EXIT AT THE HANDS OF SOUTHAMPTON IN THE FA CUP SAW US THROW AWAY THE ONE TROPHY WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS IN OVER THE LAST 18 YEARS, BUT ARTETA RETAINED MY SUPPORT.
THEN ON 18 APRIL 2021 THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL WAS ROCKED BY BREAKING NEWS.
"Twelve of Europe’s leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.
AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined as Founding Clubs. It is anticipated that a further three clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.
Going forward, the Founding Clubs look forward to holding discussions with UEFA and FIFA to work together in partnership to deliver the best outcomes for the new League and for football as a whole.
The formation of the Super League comes at a time when the global pandemic has accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model. Further, for a number of years, the Founding Clubs have had the objective of improving the quality and intensity of existing European competitions throughout each season, and of creating a format for top clubs and players to compete on a regular basis.
The pandemic has shown that a strategic vision and a sustainable commercial approach are required to enhance value and support for the benefit of the entire European football pyramid.
In recent months extensive dialogue has taken place with football stakeholders regarding the future format of European competitions. The Founding Clubs believe the solutions proposed following these talks do not solve fundamental issues, including the need to provide higher- quality matches and additional financial resources for the overall football pyramid.
As soon as practicable after the start of the men’s competition, a corresponding women’s league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women’s game.
The new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues.
These solidarity payments will be substantially higher than those generated by the current European competition and are expected to be in excess of €10 billion during the course of the initial commitment period of the Clubs.
In addition, the competition will be built on a sustainable financial foundation with all Founding Clubs signing up to a spending framework. In exchange for their commitment, Founding Clubs will receive an amount of €3.5 billion solely to support their infrastructure investment plans and to offset the impact of the COVID pandemic.
Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president and the first chairman of the Super League said: “We will help football at every level and take it to its rightful place in the world. Football is the only global sport in the world with more than four billion fans and our responsibility as big clubs is to respond to their desires.”
Backing the new European league, Andrea Agnelli, chairman of Juventus and vice-chairman of the Super League said: ““Our 12 Founder clubs represent billions of fans across the globe and 99 European trophies. We have come together at this critical moment, enabling European competition to be transformed, putting the game we love on a sustainable footing for the long-term future, substantially increasing solidarity, and giving fans and amateur players a regular flow of headline fixtures that will feed their passion for the game while providing them with engaging role models.”
Joel Glazer, co-chairman of Manchester United and vice-chairman of the Super League said: ““By bringing together the world’s greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world- class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid.” EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE STATEMENT, APRIL 18
THE NEWS HAD EMERGED IN THE AFTERNOON DURING THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH BETWEEN MANCHESTER UNITED AND BURNLEY. SKY SPORTS PUNDIT AND FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER GARY NEVILLE WAS APOPLECTIC IN RAGE AT THE NEWS. OVER THE NEXT 7 HOURS FANS OF ALL THE CLUBS, INCLUDING ME, WAITED WITH BAITED BREATH FOR AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. WHEN IT CAME AT 11.24PM THAT NIGHT I READ IT IN A STATE OF SHOCK. OF COURSE I KNEW THE NEWS BUT I DIDN'T QUITE BELIEVE IT UNTIL I READ IT.
ARSENAL WERE JOINING A SUPER LEAGUE. NOW I WANT TO BE CLEAR HERE, A SUPER LEAGUE WITHIN THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF FOOTBALL, IN THE FORM OF A REFORMED UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, IS SOMETHING I WOULD SUPPORT. CLUBS WOULD EARN THEIR WAY INTO IT BUT THE UCL WOULD BE THE ONLY EUROPEAN CLUB COMPETITION, FEATURING MANY MORE TEAMS AND A BIGGER LEAGUE SYSTEM LEADING TO A KNOCKOUT TOURNAMENT SIMILAR TO THE NFL PLAYOFFS. BUT AS A BREAKAWAY LEAGUE WHICH HAS NO PROMOTION OR RELEGATION, OR A COMPLETE DISCONNECT FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS SOMETHING I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT.
WATCHING ARSENAL PLAY MANCHESTER UNITED IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS HUGE, BUT SO IS WATCHING ARSENAL PLAY EVERTON, NEWCASTLE, LEEDS AND ASTON VILLA. AND UNDER THE RIDICULOUS PROPOSAL FROM THE 12 CLUB OWNERS THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, OR INDEED SEEING ARSENAL PLAY AJAX, ROMA, BENFICA OR PSG. THE WORST THING ABOUT THE WHOLE DEBACLE, WHICH LED TO ABSOLUTELY CORRECT FAN PROTESTS, WAS THAT THERE WAS NO DOUBT WHO WAS DRIVING THIS NONSENSE.
IT WASN'T THE ABU DHABI GROUP WHICH OWN MANCHESTER CITY, AND IT WASN'T ROMAN ABRAMOVICH, WHO OWNS CHELSEA. THIS SUPER LEAGUE WAS BEING DRIVEN BY THE AMERICAN OWNERS, AND WAS BEING BACKED BY AN AMERICAN BANK, JP MORGAN. AMERICAN SPORTS IN GENERAL DO NOT HAVE PROMOTION AND RELEGATION, THEY ARE FRANCHISES OWNED BY WEALTHY BENEFACTORS, WHICH CAN BE MOVED FROM CITY TO CITY, AS THE RAMS HAVE BEEN FROM LA TO ST LOUIS AND BACK AGAIN.
THE AMERICANS DO NOT, IN GENERAL, UNDERSTAND OUR FOOTBALL, OR THE WORLD'S FOOTBALL FOR THAT MATTER. THEIR OWN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER DOES NOT HAVE PROMOTION AND RELEGATION, ONE OF VERY FEW LEAGUES IN WORLD FOOTBALL TO HAVE THAT SYSTEM. AND ALSO OWNERS OF FRANCHISES IN THE UNITED STATES DO NOT GENERALLY PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO THE GRIEVANCES OF THE FANS, WHO ARE SEEN MORE AS CUSTOMERS, AND IT SEEMS MOST OF THOSE CUSTOMERS ARE HAPPY TO SUSTAIN SUCH A SYSTEM. BUT THIS WAS NEVER GOING TO BE ACCEPTED BY FOOTBALL FANS ACROSS EUROPE.
DESPITE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE TEAM SINCE ARSENE WENGER DEPARTED THE KROENKE'S HAD ALLOWED THE EMIRATES STADIUM TO DECLINE, THEY HAD ALLOWED THE TEAM TO DECLINE AND THEY HAD CHOSEN TO SEVER THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ARSENAL FANS, AND THIS FOR MANY WAS THE FINAL STRAW.
AFTER TWO NIGHTS OF PROTESTS, AT THE HOME GAME TO EVERTON AND THE EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL AGAINST VILLARREAL, NEITHER OF WHICH WE SCORED IN, IT SEEMED KROENKE'S DAYS AT ARSENAL WERE NEARING AN END. THEN STAN'S SON JOSH EMERGED AS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CLUB AND FANS. HE ATTEMPTED TO SMOOTH RELATIONS, AND HE BACKED MIKEL ARTETA TO REMAIN AS ARSENAL MANAGER.
THE SPANIARD TOOK US TO THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE EUROPA LEAGUE, WITH A CHANCE TO WIN THE TROPHY AND TAKE US BACK TO THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, BUT ABSURD TACTICS AND TEAM SELECTION COST US AND WE LOST TO VILLARREAL. AT THAT POINT I FELT MIKEL SHOULD LEAVE, HIS YOUTH AND INEXPERIENCE WAS COSTING US, BUT HE REMAINED AND HAD A SECOND SUMMER WINDOW TO CHANGE THE TEAM FURTHER.
DESPITE RUMOURS OF BIDS FROM SPOTIFY OWNER DANIEL EK, WITH THIERRY HENRY AS PART OF SOME WEIRD CONSORTIUM, THE KROENKE'S HAVE ONCE AGAIN REITERATED THEIRE DESIRE TO CONTINUE THEIR OWNERSHIP OF ARSENAL FC, AND IN THE SUMMER OF 2021 THEY SEEMINGLY DELIVERED.
ARSENAL SPENT MORE THAN ANY OTHER CLUB IN EUROPE, WITH NEARLY £145MILLION BEING SPENT ON A RAFT OF YOUNG, PROMISING TALENTS IN MULTIPLE POSITIONS. A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF PLAYERS HAVE BEEN SOLD AND LOANED OUT, AS MIKEL ARTETA ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AND MAKEUP OF THE SQUAD.
AFTER A TRULY TERRIBLE FIRST THREE GAMES, LOSING ALL 3 AND CONCEDING 9 GOALS WITHOUT SCORING, ARSENAL MADE A SUPERB COMEBACK, AND COMING INTO THE NEW YEAR THEY SAT IN 4TH PLACE, SET TO QUALIFY FOR THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. THIS WAS THE TIME TO INVEST AND ADD TO A VERY THIN SQUAD TO SECURE THAT PLACE IN EUROPE'S TOP COMPETITION. BUT INCREDIBLY ARSENAL SIGNED ABSOLUTELY NOBODY AND OFFLOADED PIERRE EMERICK AUBAMEYANG AND CALUM CHAMBERS AMONG OTHERS.
I CAN CRITICISE THE KROENKE FAMILY FOR MUCH OVER THE YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH ARSENAL, BUT SINCE ARSENE WENGER DEPARTED IN MAY 2018 THEY HAVE GIVEN MANAGERS OVER £430MILLION TO SPEND, AND YES PLAYERS HAVE LEFT BUT £430MILLION TO SECURE 1 FA CUP AND NO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL IS SIMPLY A FAILURE OF RECRUITMENT, MANAGEMENT AND COACHING.
THE NEWS HAD EMERGED IN THE AFTERNOON DURING THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH BETWEEN MANCHESTER UNITED AND BURNLEY. SKY SPORTS PUNDIT AND FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER GARY NEVILLE WAS APOPLECTIC IN RAGE AT THE NEWS. OVER THE NEXT 7 HOURS FANS OF ALL THE CLUBS, INCLUDING ME, WAITED WITH BAITED BREATH FOR AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. WHEN IT CAME AT 11.24PM THAT NIGHT I READ IT IN A STATE OF SHOCK. OF COURSE I KNEW THE NEWS BUT I DIDN'T QUITE BELIEVE IT UNTIL I READ IT.
ARSENAL WERE JOINING A SUPER LEAGUE. NOW I WANT TO BE CLEAR HERE, A SUPER LEAGUE WITHIN THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF FOOTBALL, IN THE FORM OF A REFORMED UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, IS SOMETHING I WOULD SUPPORT. CLUBS WOULD EARN THEIR WAY INTO IT BUT THE UCL WOULD BE THE ONLY EUROPEAN CLUB COMPETITION, FEATURING MANY MORE TEAMS AND A BIGGER LEAGUE SYSTEM LEADING TO A KNOCKOUT TOURNAMENT SIMILAR TO THE NFL PLAYOFFS. BUT AS A BREAKAWAY LEAGUE WHICH HAS NO PROMOTION OR RELEGATION, OR A COMPLETE DISCONNECT FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS SOMETHING I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT.
WATCHING ARSENAL PLAY MANCHESTER UNITED IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS HUGE, BUT SO IS WATCHING ARSENAL PLAY EVERTON, NEWCASTLE, LEEDS AND ASTON VILLA. AND UNDER THE RIDICULOUS PROPOSAL FROM THE 12 CLUB OWNERS THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, OR INDEED SEEING ARSENAL PLAY AJAX, ROMA, BENFICA OR PSG. THE WORST THING ABOUT THE WHOLE DEBACLE, WHICH LED TO ABSOLUTELY CORRECT FAN PROTESTS, WAS THAT THERE WAS NO DOUBT WHO WAS DRIVING THIS NONSENSE.
IT WASN'T THE ABU DHABI GROUP WHICH OWN MANCHESTER CITY, AND IT WASN'T ROMAN ABRAMOVICH, WHO OWNS CHELSEA. THIS SUPER LEAGUE WAS BEING DRIVEN BY THE AMERICAN OWNERS, AND WAS BEING BACKED BY AN AMERICAN BANK, JP MORGAN. AMERICAN SPORTS IN GENERAL DO NOT HAVE PROMOTION AND RELEGATION, THEY ARE FRANCHISES OWNED BY WEALTHY BENEFACTORS, WHICH CAN BE MOVED FROM CITY TO CITY, AS THE RAMS HAVE BEEN FROM LA TO ST LOUIS AND BACK AGAIN.
THE AMERICANS DO NOT, IN GENERAL, UNDERSTAND OUR FOOTBALL, OR THE WORLD'S FOOTBALL FOR THAT MATTER. THEIR OWN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER DOES NOT HAVE PROMOTION AND RELEGATION, ONE OF VERY FEW LEAGUES IN WORLD FOOTBALL TO HAVE THAT SYSTEM. AND ALSO OWNERS OF FRANCHISES IN THE UNITED STATES DO NOT GENERALLY PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO THE GRIEVANCES OF THE FANS, WHO ARE SEEN MORE AS CUSTOMERS, AND IT SEEMS MOST OF THOSE CUSTOMERS ARE HAPPY TO SUSTAIN SUCH A SYSTEM. BUT THIS WAS NEVER GOING TO BE ACCEPTED BY FOOTBALL FANS ACROSS EUROPE.
DESPITE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE TEAM SINCE ARSENE WENGER DEPARTED THE KROENKE'S HAD ALLOWED THE EMIRATES STADIUM TO DECLINE, THEY HAD ALLOWED THE TEAM TO DECLINE AND THEY HAD CHOSEN TO SEVER THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ARSENAL FANS, AND THIS FOR MANY WAS THE FINAL STRAW.
AFTER TWO NIGHTS OF PROTESTS, AT THE HOME GAME TO EVERTON AND THE EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL AGAINST VILLARREAL, NEITHER OF WHICH WE SCORED IN, IT SEEMED KROENKE'S DAYS AT ARSENAL WERE NEARING AN END. THEN STAN'S SON JOSH EMERGED AS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CLUB AND FANS. HE ATTEMPTED TO SMOOTH RELATIONS, AND HE BACKED MIKEL ARTETA TO REMAIN AS ARSENAL MANAGER.
THE SPANIARD TOOK US TO THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE EUROPA LEAGUE, WITH A CHANCE TO WIN THE TROPHY AND TAKE US BACK TO THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, BUT ABSURD TACTICS AND TEAM SELECTION COST US AND WE LOST TO VILLARREAL. AT THAT POINT I FELT MIKEL SHOULD LEAVE, HIS YOUTH AND INEXPERIENCE WAS COSTING US, BUT HE REMAINED AND HAD A SECOND SUMMER WINDOW TO CHANGE THE TEAM FURTHER.
DESPITE RUMOURS OF BIDS FROM SPOTIFY OWNER DANIEL EK, WITH THIERRY HENRY AS PART OF SOME WEIRD CONSORTIUM, THE KROENKE'S HAVE ONCE AGAIN REITERATED THEIRE DESIRE TO CONTINUE THEIR OWNERSHIP OF ARSENAL FC, AND IN THE SUMMER OF 2021 THEY SEEMINGLY DELIVERED.
ARSENAL SPENT MORE THAN ANY OTHER CLUB IN EUROPE, WITH NEARLY £145MILLION BEING SPENT ON A RAFT OF YOUNG, PROMISING TALENTS IN MULTIPLE POSITIONS. A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF PLAYERS HAVE BEEN SOLD AND LOANED OUT, AS MIKEL ARTETA ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AND MAKEUP OF THE SQUAD.
AFTER A TRULY TERRIBLE FIRST THREE GAMES, LOSING ALL 3 AND CONCEDING 9 GOALS WITHOUT SCORING, ARSENAL MADE A SUPERB COMEBACK, AND COMING INTO THE NEW YEAR THEY SAT IN 4TH PLACE, SET TO QUALIFY FOR THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. THIS WAS THE TIME TO INVEST AND ADD TO A VERY THIN SQUAD TO SECURE THAT PLACE IN EUROPE'S TOP COMPETITION. BUT INCREDIBLY ARSENAL SIGNED ABSOLUTELY NOBODY AND OFFLOADED PIERRE EMERICK AUBAMEYANG AND CALUM CHAMBERS AMONG OTHERS.
I CAN CRITICISE THE KROENKE FAMILY FOR MUCH OVER THE YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH ARSENAL, BUT SINCE ARSENE WENGER DEPARTED IN MAY 2018 THEY HAVE GIVEN MANAGERS OVER £430MILLION TO SPEND, AND YES PLAYERS HAVE LEFT BUT £430MILLION TO SECURE 1 FA CUP AND NO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL IS SIMPLY A FAILURE OF RECRUITMENT, MANAGEMENT AND COACHING.
IN ADDITION TO AN INVESTMENT IN YOUTH ON THE PITCH THE KROENKE'S HAVE PUT THEIR TRUST IN YOUTH OFF THE PITCH TOO.
THEY HIRED SEAN MCVAY AS HEAD COACH OF THE RAMS IN 2017 AT THE TENDER AGE OF 30, MAKING HIM THE YOUNGEST COACH IN THE MODERN HISTORY OF THE NFL AND THE YOUNGEST IN TOP FLIGHT AMERICAN FOOTBALL SINCE THE RAMS HIRED 27-year-old Art Lewis in 1938.
MCVAY'S PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE INCLUDED 9 YEARS OF COACHING FROM THE AGE OF 21 IN VARIOUS ROLES AT THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, FLORIDA TUSKERS IN THE UFL AND THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS. BUT THE RAMS WOULD BE HIS FIRST HEAD COACH ROLE.
IN HIS FIRST SEASON HE TOOK THE RAMS TO THE PLAYOFFS, LOSING IN THE WILDCARD ROUND AND BEING VOTED NFL COACH OF THE YEAR IN FEBRUARY 2018.
IN HIS SECOND SEASON HE TOOK THE RAMS TO THE SUPER BOWL, LOSING 10-13 TO THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.
SEASON 3 WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT, WITH THE RAMS MISSING OUT ON the playoffs with a 9–7 record.
IN SEASON 4 THE RAMS MADE THE PLAYOFFS FOR A SECOND TIME UNDER MCVAY, REACHING THE DIVISIONAL ROUND BEFORE LOSING TO THE GREEN BAY PACKERS 18-32.
NOW IN SEASON 5 HE HAS GUIDED THE LOS ANGELES RAMS BACK TO THE SUPER BOWL, AND IS ONE WIN AWAY FROM BECOMING THE YOUNGEST EVER HEAD COACH TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL.
MCVAY HAS SHOWN THAT YOU CAN HAVE SUCCESS BEING A YOUNG HEAD COACH, OR AS A MANAGER AS MIKEL ARTETA IS. SO FAR MIKEL HAS TAKEN ARSENAL TO FA CUP GLORY, AND SEMI-FINAL DEFEATS IN THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE AND CARABAO CUP. THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS ARE VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF BOTH ARSENAL AND ARTETA, A RUN TO FINISH IN THE TOP FOUR CAN CONTINUE HIS DREAM OF BRINGING THE GLORY DAYS BACK TO ARSENAL. BUT THE KROENKE'S HAVE SHOWN PATIENCE WITH MCVAY AND PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIS YOUTH. TODAY HE COULD DELIVER THEM THE ULTIMATE PRIZE.
THEY HIRED SEAN MCVAY AS HEAD COACH OF THE RAMS IN 2017 AT THE TENDER AGE OF 30, MAKING HIM THE YOUNGEST COACH IN THE MODERN HISTORY OF THE NFL AND THE YOUNGEST IN TOP FLIGHT AMERICAN FOOTBALL SINCE THE RAMS HIRED 27-year-old Art Lewis in 1938.
MCVAY'S PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE INCLUDED 9 YEARS OF COACHING FROM THE AGE OF 21 IN VARIOUS ROLES AT THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, FLORIDA TUSKERS IN THE UFL AND THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS. BUT THE RAMS WOULD BE HIS FIRST HEAD COACH ROLE.
IN HIS FIRST SEASON HE TOOK THE RAMS TO THE PLAYOFFS, LOSING IN THE WILDCARD ROUND AND BEING VOTED NFL COACH OF THE YEAR IN FEBRUARY 2018.
IN HIS SECOND SEASON HE TOOK THE RAMS TO THE SUPER BOWL, LOSING 10-13 TO THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.
SEASON 3 WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT, WITH THE RAMS MISSING OUT ON the playoffs with a 9–7 record.
IN SEASON 4 THE RAMS MADE THE PLAYOFFS FOR A SECOND TIME UNDER MCVAY, REACHING THE DIVISIONAL ROUND BEFORE LOSING TO THE GREEN BAY PACKERS 18-32.
NOW IN SEASON 5 HE HAS GUIDED THE LOS ANGELES RAMS BACK TO THE SUPER BOWL, AND IS ONE WIN AWAY FROM BECOMING THE YOUNGEST EVER HEAD COACH TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL.
MCVAY HAS SHOWN THAT YOU CAN HAVE SUCCESS BEING A YOUNG HEAD COACH, OR AS A MANAGER AS MIKEL ARTETA IS. SO FAR MIKEL HAS TAKEN ARSENAL TO FA CUP GLORY, AND SEMI-FINAL DEFEATS IN THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE AND CARABAO CUP. THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS ARE VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF BOTH ARSENAL AND ARTETA, A RUN TO FINISH IN THE TOP FOUR CAN CONTINUE HIS DREAM OF BRINGING THE GLORY DAYS BACK TO ARSENAL. BUT THE KROENKE'S HAVE SHOWN PATIENCE WITH MCVAY AND PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIS YOUTH. TODAY HE COULD DELIVER THEM THE ULTIMATE PRIZE.
IT HAS BEEN CLEAR EVER SINCE BOXING DAY 2020 THAT ARSENAL HAVE DECIDED TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, SIGNING POTENTIAL TALENT AND DEVELOPING THEIR OWN AND RIGHT NOW ARSENAL HAS THE YOUNGEST SQUAD IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE. WE HAVE AARON RAMSDALE, GABRIEL, BEN WHITE, TAKAHIRO TOMIYASU, KIERAN TIERNEY, THOMAS PARTEY, EMILE SMITH ROWE, MARTIN ODEGAARD, BUKAYO SAKA AND GABRIEL MARTINELLI, THEN WE HAVE WILLIAM SALIBA OUT ON LOAN SET TO RETURN AT THE END OF THIS SEASON.
BUT WE STILL HAVE CEDRIC SOARES, GRANIT XHAKA, MOHAMED ELNENY AND ROB HOLDING, PLAYERS WHO HAVE BEEN AT THE CLUB DURING THE STEEP DECLINE THE TEAM HAS BEEN THROUGH, AND AT THE END OF THIS SEASON WE ARE SET TO HAVE A STRIKER CRISIS. AUBAMEYANG HAS BEEN BOOTED OUT THE DOOR TO BARCELONA, LACAZETTE IS OUT OF CONTRACT AND SET TO LEAVE, NKETIAH IS OUT OF CONTRACT AND SET TO LEAVE AND FOLARIN BALOGUN IS NOT ONLY YOUNG AND RAW, HE IS OUT ON LOAN AND STILL DEVELOPING.
ARSENAL HAVE POTENTIAL, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT NOW STAN AND JOSH KROENKE HAVE TO DIP INTO THEIR POCKETS TO SECURE SUPERSTAR NAMES IN KEY POSITIONS TO TAKE ARSENAL TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THE KROENKE'S ALSO HAVE TO INVEST IN EMIRATES STADIUM. ARSENAL'S RECORD ATTENDANCE AT A STADIUM OTHER THAN WEMBLEY (WHICH WE USED FOR THE 1998-99 AND 1999-00 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEASONS) IS 73,295 AND THERE IS NO DOUBT WITH THOUSANDS ON THE WAITING LIST FOR SEASON TICKETS WE COULD FILL A STADIUM OF THAT SIZE, ESPECIALLY IF WE RETURN TO PLAYING REGULARLY IN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.
A STADIUM THAT SIZE WOULD ALSO ENABLE ARSENAL FC AND THE EMIRATES STADIUM TO HOST MATCHES AT ANY FUTURE WORLD CUP OR EUROS IN ENGLAND, AND ATTRACT POTENTIAL FUTURE HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING FIGHTS, A NOD TO OUR HERITAGE, HAVING HOSTED MUHAMMAD ALI'S SECOND BOUT WITH HENRY COOPER AT HIGHBURY IN MAY 1966. THE EMIRATES NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED AND IT NEEDS A REFURBISHMENT TO BRING IT UP TO THE STANDARDS OF THE 2020'S.
KSE BASICALLY NEED TO DO TO ARSENAL WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THE RAMS.
SOFI STADIUM IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE, AND I WOULD ARGUE, THE BEST STADIUM IN THE WORLD. TODAY IT WILL HOST THE SUPER BOWL, THEN IN 2028 IT IS SET TO HOST THE OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC GAMES, ALONG WITH GAMES IN THE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT. IT WILL SURELY ALSO HOST OTHER MAJOR EVENTS IN THE FUTURE, AND BECOME A WORLD FAMOUS VENUE.
THE RAMS ALSO HAVE A TEAM WITH STAR POWER. ODELL BECKHAM JR MAY BE THE SECOND BECKHAM TO PLAY IN LOS ANGELES AFTER DAVID'S STINT AT THE LA GALAXY (NO RELATION) BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THE 29-YEAR-OLD WIDE RECEIVER FROM LOUISIANA IS A SUPERSTAR OF THE SPORT, AND HE JOINED THE RAMS IN 2021 AFTER SUCCESSFUL YEARS AT THE NEW YORK GIANTS AND CLEVELAND BROWNS.
Jalen Ramsey IS A 27-YEAR-OLD CORNERBACK FROM TENNESSEE, RAMSEY WAS DRAFTED FROM COLLEGE BY THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS IN 2016 BEFORE BEING TRADED TO THE RAMS IN 2019.
Matthew Stafford IS THE RAMS QUARTERBACK, THE 34-YEAR-OLD FROM FLORIDA WAS DRAFTED FROM COLLEGE BY THE DETROIT LIONS AND WAS TRADED TO THE RAMS IN MARCH 2021.
Von B'Vsean Miller Jr. IS A 32-YEAR-OLD OUTSIDE LINEBACKER FROM TEXAS WHO BEGAN HIS NFL CAREER WITH THE DENVER BRONCOS BEFORE BEING TRADED TO THE RAMS IN NOVEMBER 2021, MID-SEASON IN THEIR RUN TO THE SUPER BOWL.
Cooper Kupp IS A 28-YEAR-OLD WIDE RECEIVER FROM WASHINGTON AND IN 2022 HE WAS VOTED THE NFL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AT THIS WEEK'S NFL HONORS. KUPP WAS DRAFTED FROM COLLEGE BY THE RAMS IN 2017 AND HAS BEEN ARGUABLY THE STAR MAN ON THEIR RUN TO THE SUPER BOWL THIS SEASON.
Aaron Donald IS A 30-YEAR-OLD DEFENSIVE TACKLE FROM PENNSYLVANIA AND WAS DRAFTED FROM COLLEGE IN 2014 BY THE RAMS, SPENDING HIS ENTIRE CAREER WITH THE FRANCHISE.
THESE 6 SUPERSTAR PLAYERS ARE ALL EITHER EXTREMELY EXPERIENCE OR AT THEIR PEAK IN TERMS OF AGE AND SEASONS PLAYED IN THE NFL, WITH 4 OF THEM RECENT SIGNINGS BY THE RAMS. THESE SIGNINGS HAVE BEEN KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE RAMS, AND SHOULD SHOW THE KROENKE'S THE WAY TO GLORY IN NORTH LONDON.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AFTER ARSENAL'S LATEST FAILURE AGAINST BURNLEY I MADE A HARSH AND PASSIONATE RANT SAYING I HOPED THE RAMS LOST SUPER BOWL AND KROENKE CAN SHOVE THE LOMBARDI TROPHY WHERE THE SUN DOESN'T SHINE.
SPORT IS A PASSIONATE BUSINESS, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE CLUB I LOVE AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST FOOTBALL CLUBS ON THE PLANET STRUGGLE TO GET ANYWHERE NEAR THEIR POTENTIAL, YET OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD A TEAM OWNED BY OUR OWNER IS NOT ONLY PLAYING IN A $5BILLION STADIUM, THEY ARE SIGNING STAR PLAYERS AND REACHING THE VERY PINNACLE OF THE SPORT.
I DO WISH THAT FOLLOWING THIS SEASON KROENKE WOULD INVEST IN THE PROPER PLACES AND ENABLE ARSENAL TO RETURN TO THE TOP TABLE OF THE SPORT, A PLACE THEY USED TO GRACE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. AND GIVE US THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY CONTEND TO WIN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND PREMIER LEAGUE.
I WILL BE SUPPORTING OUR COUSINS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AND CHEERING FOR THEM TO LIFT THE VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY AS SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS, AND ALSO HOPING THE KROENKE'S WANT TO SEE MORE SILVERWARE FROM THEIR OTHER MAJOR CLUB IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
BUT WE STILL HAVE CEDRIC SOARES, GRANIT XHAKA, MOHAMED ELNENY AND ROB HOLDING, PLAYERS WHO HAVE BEEN AT THE CLUB DURING THE STEEP DECLINE THE TEAM HAS BEEN THROUGH, AND AT THE END OF THIS SEASON WE ARE SET TO HAVE A STRIKER CRISIS. AUBAMEYANG HAS BEEN BOOTED OUT THE DOOR TO BARCELONA, LACAZETTE IS OUT OF CONTRACT AND SET TO LEAVE, NKETIAH IS OUT OF CONTRACT AND SET TO LEAVE AND FOLARIN BALOGUN IS NOT ONLY YOUNG AND RAW, HE IS OUT ON LOAN AND STILL DEVELOPING.
ARSENAL HAVE POTENTIAL, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT NOW STAN AND JOSH KROENKE HAVE TO DIP INTO THEIR POCKETS TO SECURE SUPERSTAR NAMES IN KEY POSITIONS TO TAKE ARSENAL TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THE KROENKE'S ALSO HAVE TO INVEST IN EMIRATES STADIUM. ARSENAL'S RECORD ATTENDANCE AT A STADIUM OTHER THAN WEMBLEY (WHICH WE USED FOR THE 1998-99 AND 1999-00 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEASONS) IS 73,295 AND THERE IS NO DOUBT WITH THOUSANDS ON THE WAITING LIST FOR SEASON TICKETS WE COULD FILL A STADIUM OF THAT SIZE, ESPECIALLY IF WE RETURN TO PLAYING REGULARLY IN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.
A STADIUM THAT SIZE WOULD ALSO ENABLE ARSENAL FC AND THE EMIRATES STADIUM TO HOST MATCHES AT ANY FUTURE WORLD CUP OR EUROS IN ENGLAND, AND ATTRACT POTENTIAL FUTURE HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING FIGHTS, A NOD TO OUR HERITAGE, HAVING HOSTED MUHAMMAD ALI'S SECOND BOUT WITH HENRY COOPER AT HIGHBURY IN MAY 1966. THE EMIRATES NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED AND IT NEEDS A REFURBISHMENT TO BRING IT UP TO THE STANDARDS OF THE 2020'S.
KSE BASICALLY NEED TO DO TO ARSENAL WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THE RAMS.
SOFI STADIUM IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE, AND I WOULD ARGUE, THE BEST STADIUM IN THE WORLD. TODAY IT WILL HOST THE SUPER BOWL, THEN IN 2028 IT IS SET TO HOST THE OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC GAMES, ALONG WITH GAMES IN THE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT. IT WILL SURELY ALSO HOST OTHER MAJOR EVENTS IN THE FUTURE, AND BECOME A WORLD FAMOUS VENUE.
THE RAMS ALSO HAVE A TEAM WITH STAR POWER. ODELL BECKHAM JR MAY BE THE SECOND BECKHAM TO PLAY IN LOS ANGELES AFTER DAVID'S STINT AT THE LA GALAXY (NO RELATION) BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THE 29-YEAR-OLD WIDE RECEIVER FROM LOUISIANA IS A SUPERSTAR OF THE SPORT, AND HE JOINED THE RAMS IN 2021 AFTER SUCCESSFUL YEARS AT THE NEW YORK GIANTS AND CLEVELAND BROWNS.
Jalen Ramsey IS A 27-YEAR-OLD CORNERBACK FROM TENNESSEE, RAMSEY WAS DRAFTED FROM COLLEGE BY THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS IN 2016 BEFORE BEING TRADED TO THE RAMS IN 2019.
Matthew Stafford IS THE RAMS QUARTERBACK, THE 34-YEAR-OLD FROM FLORIDA WAS DRAFTED FROM COLLEGE BY THE DETROIT LIONS AND WAS TRADED TO THE RAMS IN MARCH 2021.
Von B'Vsean Miller Jr. IS A 32-YEAR-OLD OUTSIDE LINEBACKER FROM TEXAS WHO BEGAN HIS NFL CAREER WITH THE DENVER BRONCOS BEFORE BEING TRADED TO THE RAMS IN NOVEMBER 2021, MID-SEASON IN THEIR RUN TO THE SUPER BOWL.
Cooper Kupp IS A 28-YEAR-OLD WIDE RECEIVER FROM WASHINGTON AND IN 2022 HE WAS VOTED THE NFL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AT THIS WEEK'S NFL HONORS. KUPP WAS DRAFTED FROM COLLEGE BY THE RAMS IN 2017 AND HAS BEEN ARGUABLY THE STAR MAN ON THEIR RUN TO THE SUPER BOWL THIS SEASON.
Aaron Donald IS A 30-YEAR-OLD DEFENSIVE TACKLE FROM PENNSYLVANIA AND WAS DRAFTED FROM COLLEGE IN 2014 BY THE RAMS, SPENDING HIS ENTIRE CAREER WITH THE FRANCHISE.
THESE 6 SUPERSTAR PLAYERS ARE ALL EITHER EXTREMELY EXPERIENCE OR AT THEIR PEAK IN TERMS OF AGE AND SEASONS PLAYED IN THE NFL, WITH 4 OF THEM RECENT SIGNINGS BY THE RAMS. THESE SIGNINGS HAVE BEEN KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE RAMS, AND SHOULD SHOW THE KROENKE'S THE WAY TO GLORY IN NORTH LONDON.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AFTER ARSENAL'S LATEST FAILURE AGAINST BURNLEY I MADE A HARSH AND PASSIONATE RANT SAYING I HOPED THE RAMS LOST SUPER BOWL AND KROENKE CAN SHOVE THE LOMBARDI TROPHY WHERE THE SUN DOESN'T SHINE.
SPORT IS A PASSIONATE BUSINESS, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE CLUB I LOVE AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST FOOTBALL CLUBS ON THE PLANET STRUGGLE TO GET ANYWHERE NEAR THEIR POTENTIAL, YET OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD A TEAM OWNED BY OUR OWNER IS NOT ONLY PLAYING IN A $5BILLION STADIUM, THEY ARE SIGNING STAR PLAYERS AND REACHING THE VERY PINNACLE OF THE SPORT.
I DO WISH THAT FOLLOWING THIS SEASON KROENKE WOULD INVEST IN THE PROPER PLACES AND ENABLE ARSENAL TO RETURN TO THE TOP TABLE OF THE SPORT, A PLACE THEY USED TO GRACE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. AND GIVE US THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY CONTEND TO WIN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND PREMIER LEAGUE.
I WILL BE SUPPORTING OUR COUSINS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AND CHEERING FOR THEM TO LIFT THE VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY AS SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS, AND ALSO HOPING THE KROENKE'S WANT TO SEE MORE SILVERWARE FROM THEIR OTHER MAJOR CLUB IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
