Source: Team_Talk
Wenger: Ownership structure the key
Arsene Wenger believes the current High Court battle for control of Liverpool highlights the importance of Arsenal's ownership structure.[LNB] It appears a £300million takeover by Boston Red Sox owner John W Henry will eventually be completed despite attempts in the United States to block the deal by Tom Hicks and George Gillett.[LNB]Arsenal's major stakeholder is US entrepreneur Stan Kroenke, who like Henry also has interests in American sports franchises recently completing his own takeover of the St Louis Rams.[LNB]However, the Gunners continue to move forwards under a self-sustaining model from their 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium home - with the latest set of figures announcing record pre-tax profits of £56million, with the group's turnover increased to £379.9million.[LNB]Wenger said: "It shows that the way we manage our club is rewarded in the fact we are not involved in this kind of thing."[LNB]The Arsenal manager is said to have plenty of funds available for transfers, should he wish to get involved in the January sales.[LNB]Former winger Robert Pires has been training at the club's Hertfordshire complex after being released by Villarreal during the summer.[LNB]However, Wenger maintains there will be no contract offer for Pires - a member of the Invincibles squad of 2003/2004 and who turns 37 later this month - in a similar deal which saw former captain Sol Campbell return to the club last season.[LNB]"No, we have enough players," said Wenger. "We have a big squad, we have 25 players.[LNB]"We will respect our wages bill and we will not go above what we have planned financially with the players.[LNB]"It is time for us to get the players back on the pitch because we pay as well the players who don't play.[LNB]"We want them back on the pitch and we have medically to make a big effort to get everybody back.[LNB]"You want your players to perform on the football pitch."
