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Arsenal chief’s delight at entertaining style of play
Chairman admits disappointment but looks to brighter future
ARSENAL chairman Peter Hill-Wood has claimed Arsenal’s stuttering season has been mitigated in some part by the attractiveness of their play.
The long-serving Gunners chief has seen Arsenal slide out of the championship race with a series of home draws and away defeats. Even wins against Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham, and a brave draw against Chelsea on Sunday, have failed to propel Arsenal back into contention.
Mr Hill-Wood said: “We have had one or two disappointing results this season when we have drawn but we should have won. That would have put us up the table.
“However they are a very young side and I am delighted at the way we have played our football that has been hugely entertaining.”
The Gunners chief was taking part in an Arsenal.com webchat on Monday to mark the 120-year anniversary of Arsenal’s first match.
He said that the club had not vetoed any transfer targets suggested by Arsene Wenger.
Mr Hill-Wood said: “He has been very shrewd in his transfer dealings, he has not spent huge amounts but has produced a side that can compete at the highest level. We have never denied him any money but he has never asked for silly amounts.”
Facing questions from fans, Mr Hill-Wood said that the club was not wholly reliant on club captain Thierry Henry.
He said: “Team matters really need to be referred to Arsene. He’s the expert. But Arsene has always said that it is not a one-man team. Thierry has not played all that much this season and the boys have proved that they can play whether he is with them or not. You must miss a player of Thierry Henry’s talent but the others have done very well indeed.”
A hot topic of questioning was Arsenal’s stadium move and Mr Hill-Wood said he had been “nervous” about Arsenal’s move to their new ground at Ashburton Grove – but that the switch had turned out better than expected.
He said: “It was a risk. There were no real doubts in my mind although I admit I was nervous that we would not find the finances. But everything fell into place very well. I feel it will transform the fortunes of the club for the future.” |
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