Mike Paterno
*Please note, I write this letter amid the speculation on the night of the 30th June, regarding Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri.
Dear Arsenal Board,
In this letter I will state my argument for the request of the season ticket renewal date as of next year to be postponed until a week before the beginning of the new season.
As did many Gooners this year I sighed when I read that the season ticket price for the season 2011/12 would increase by roughly 6%, but nevertheless still coughed up the money to watch my beloved team.
Now, since the renewal deadline passed there has been the usually transfer rumours circulating, Bendtner saying he will move on, Denilson saying it’s time to go and the usual Cesc gossip. But on the night of the 30th June I was rather dismayed to see that on Sky Sports News they was reporting that both Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri were in advanced talks to join Manchester City, for £7million and £20million respectively. There was also the usual piece suggesting that Cesc had signed somewhere other than the pieces of paper held out by young fans at the last game of the season. (Surprisingly it was AC Milan claiming he had signed for another club).
Obviously as you can imagine to many, many fans this is rather dismaying news as all three players are key members of the team. Many fans may be resigned to the fact that we may very well after years of speculation be losing our captain.
But let’s be fair to you, there have been rumors on the other side. Chris Samba, Gary Cahill and Gervinho are all reported targets, which is good, if we’re Everton or maybe Aston Villa. Now I’m not doubting that Samba and Cahill are good players, but they’re no Adams, Keown, Bould, Campbell or Toure; shall I continue? As for Gervinho, he made 35 appearances for Lille last year and scored 15 goals, so he hardly set the league alight, and this is the French league (RVP scored 18 goals with 10 fewer appearances). So again, I shall compare, Gervinho or Henry, Berkamp, Wright and yes I am going to say Adebayor. He may have been a bit of a scumbag but he performed (and he ended the Spuds CL run so he can’t be that bad). Give me a Kanu over Gervinho any day (as I write this I’m thinking if he signs I’m possibly going to regret that in a year).
This is why Mr. Peter Hill-Wood, Mr. Ivan Gazidis, Mr. Ken Friar OBE, Sir Chips Keswick, Lord Harris of Peckham and Mr. Stanley Kroenke, I ask if you would consider moving the renewal date back next year, so loyal paying fans can see if you sell off our best payers, before we cough up X amount for next year’s season ticket.
With all due respect I congratulate you on running a fantastic business. The stadium is fantastic, I have been to London Colney, and it’s superb. But football for the fans isn’t a business it’s a passion, and I’m sorry I would trade magnificent stadiums for trophies any day.
Although on a last thought as many fans have been saying recently after getting fed up of the gossip over El Capitan, no man is bigger than the club.
Kind Regards,
A Concerned Fan
