That 5Live programme is still online at the BBC website.
If you haven’t heard it already, you should.
It’s a compact, well-produced discussion of Arsenal’s finances.
Makes good points very succinctly with no waffle at all.
Last Monday’s programme was probably organised in the expectation that Arsenal would lose to Spurs last Sunday.
Hosted by Mark Pougatch, it features Martin Keown, Nigel Phillips of the AST, and Jeremy Wilson of The Telegraph.
The fourth guest is former Liverpool chief executive Christian Purslow, who starts the programme by demolishing four myths about Arsenal : that Wenger has no money, that the stadium is a burden, etc.
Nigel points out that the wage bill is now double what it was on 2004 and that Arsenal’s middle-range players are far better paid than those at Machester United.
Asked if Wenger has too much power, Nigel says, “Definitely.”
Re 2006, Martin said, ” I wanted to be a member of staff but that oportunity wasn’t there.”
Keown really enjoyed his work there but found it awkward to be neither a player nor a member of staff.
He said, “People are very protective of their jobs, when they’re on the inside.”
He’s always careful what he says about Wenger and the club, so you have to read between the lines.
Keown is too intelligent to get a job while Wenger is there. That shows how small Wenger is.
As I’m sure I’ve already said 15 times on ANR, a truly big man would delegate, a big man would share, a big man would employ bright people who can challenge him as well as help him.
The Chelsea mutiny has handed fourth place to Wenger, so he’s been lucky.
This 5Live Special is the best radio programme of its type that I’ve ever heard.
You can check it out right here.