Arsene Wenger Prepares For AGM

 

Arsene Wenger goes into Arsenal's AGM at the Emirates today convinced the club is in a strong period. Wenger is expected to address shareholders despite the unusual scheduling of the meeting on the eve of a first-team game, Tuesday night's EFL Cup tie with Reading.

The subject of his own long-term future is likely to be raised, while representatives of the Arsenal Supporters' Trust plan to quiz directors on the issue of unused season tickets at the Emirates. The AST has already welcomed the club's decision not to pay a third straight £3m consultancy fee to majority shareholder Stan Kroenke's company Kroenke Sports & Entertainment - a source of anger at last year's AGM and with around £90m spent in the summer and Wenger's team performing well in the Premier League and Europe, a relatively serene meeting is expected.

Wenger said “I think we have never gone into the AGM in a disastrous state, why? Because we are always in the top four. Work in the club for six months and you will see how it is inside. We have always been, every time, in a decent financial situation. Maybe the shareholders were not always happy. Will it be better this time? Come to the AGM and you will see. I don't know the weather forecast.”

The group's spokesman Tim Payton said: “If someone is only using the ticket a few times a year then they should be warned and after that they should lose their priority for the next season. It is a win-win to get this sorted. More people on a match-day means new fans and extra revenue in other areas but, crucially, it would also improve the atmosphere and benefit the team.”