Why are sponsors deserting Arsenal?

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In December 2018, Britain’s biggest gambling companies voluntarily agreed to a “whistle-to-whistle” television advertising ban.

The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) struck a deal to stop adverts during live sports broadcasts from the 2019/20 season.

Whilst this agreement did not include shirt and league sponsorship and digital advertising around a pitch, it seems like many of the smaller gambling firms have decided to reduce what they spend on team sponsorship.

This would explain why the 6 betting companies to sponsor Arsenal are no longer renewing their deal.

Also no longer an Arsenal sponsor mining into the 2019/20 season is Chinese carmaker BYD.

The deal with BYD was always a questionable one.

A couple of days after Arsenal announced the agreement, it transpired that the person doing the deal on before of BYD has was neither an employee, nor been given authorisation to conduct business in its name.

It was then confusing when BYD appeared on the substitutes bench seats throughout the season, seemingly indicating that Arsenal had agreed a deal.

The feeling is that after the fraudulent deal was exposed, both Arsenal and BYD agreed a one year contract, likely at a lot lower than what the fake deal was signed for. This would have benefited both sides.

BYD would get exposure to the British market at a low price and without having to do much work. It was too late for Arsenal to start negotiations with partner before the start of the season and, having already paid for those seats and other advertising materials, it was better to agree a deal for less money than have no money at all – and actually make a loss.

The 1-year agreement over and Arsenal will announce a new official car partner shortly.

The Gatorade deal was never a really “pay for advertising” type sponsorship deal. It was more of a partnership.

Gatorade were announced as Arsenal’s Sports Drink and Sports Nutrition partner in 2013 in a joint announcement alongside Liverpool. Liverpool also no longer count the drinks brand a sponsor or partner.

The deal saw Arsenal’s first team, under-21 and under-18 teams use Gatorade’s elite portfolio of sports fuel products and equipment  during training sessions and on match days. In return of free, unlimited products, Gatorade had a presence on LED boards and branding within the Emirates stadium.

Gatorade have a track record of becoming sponsors / partners of sports teams and instead of paying for the privileged, offering free product.

A team like Arsenal will not struggle to find another “sports drink and sports nutrition partner”.

Star Lager are the 8th brand to have ended their association with Arsenal.

The Nigerian beer company became Arsenal’s official beer partner in Nigeria back in 2016, signing a reported 5-year deal. It is not clear why this deal has ended 2 years early.

Star Lager also announced a similar partnership with Manchester City back in 2016. A quick look at Manchester City’s partners indicates that their agreement with the Premier League champions has also ended.

As always, you can either read the headline that makes you think that companies are running away from Arsenal, or you can take the time to look into who has left, and why.

There is not anything sinister going on, and Arsenal have recently agreed a big money deal with Adidas to become a key partner. The deal with the German kit manufacture is reported to be the 3rd biggest in history.

With Visit Rwanda and a new Emirates deal set to kick in from this summer, Arsenal will see their commercial income increase by £50million from what was shown in the 2017/18 accounts.

Keenos

Liverpool victory highlights how poorly Arsenal have been run

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If I asked the question: “Who has the better squad – Arsenal or Liverpool?” unanimously the response would be “Liverpool.”

If I then asked a follow up question “Why?” unanimously the response would be “they have invested more.”

But that is actually untrue. Liverpool have not invested more, they have simply invested better.

If we look at the net figures since 2011 (the first summer after which the Fenway Group took over), Liverpool have only spent £10m more than Arsenal.

Money spent on player salaries during that period is also very similar. Arsenal have spent £1.397bn, Liverpool £1.381bn.

Combined spending on transfer fees and salaries are also near identical. Arsenal have spent £1.642bn on net fees and salaries, whilst Liverpool have spent £1.637bn. That is a difference of just £5m

In terms of revenue, Arsenal lead the way with £2.243bn generated since 2011. Liverpool have generated £2.255m

So since the Fenway Group took over in 2010, Liverpool and Arsenal have generated similar income and spent similar on players + salaries.

Of course, in that time Arsenal have won 3 FA Cups whilst Liverpool have won the Champions League and League Cup. Both teams have finished above the other 4 times. So you could argue that the similar outlay have resulted in a similar level of success.

As it stands, Liverpool have a much superior squad than Arsenal and you feel it will take Arsenal some time to catch back up.

In summary, Arsenal need to spend what they generate better. They need to buy more players with a better sell on value (think what Liverpool got for Coutinho and Luis Saurez), whilst maintain better control over their wage bill.

I am willing to give those running the club the benefit of the doubt.

The majority of the above was with Ivan Gazidis and Arsene Wenger at the wheel. Up until 2015, we were out performing Liverpool on and off the pitch. In the 3 years from 2016 to now, we have fallen off the pace.

With the new commercial deals coming in and Raul Sanlehhi as the new captain of the ship, we need to be established and then move forward again.

It might take a couple of years for Arsenal to catch Liverpool back up, but with both clubs having similar spending power, it is certainly not mission impossible. We just need to spend what we have better.

Keenos

Arsenal Set For French Shopping Spree

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When Arsene Wenger left Arsenal in 2018, you would think the days of the club shopping in France, or buying French players had come to an end.

In the two transfer windows under Sven Mislintat’s eye, Arsenal looked at Germany, at players that Mislintat knew. The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrik Mkhitaryan, Sokratis, Kostadinos Mavropanos and Bernd Leno.

With Unai Emery, Raul Sanllehi and Francis Cagigao running things now, you would have thought Arsenal would be focusing on the Spanish market. But this summer it seems Arsenal are back shopping on the other side of the English Channel.

The team already has a Gaelic feel, with Laurent Koscielny, Matteo Guendouzi, Alexandre Lacazette and French-born Aubameyang and having managed in France for 2 years, Emery would have extensive scouting reports of Ligue 1

With France having won the last World Cup and having some of the most exciting playhers in the world coming through, it is perhaps sensible that Arsenal are returning to a market they know well.

So who are the French or Ligue 1 based players Arsenal are looking at?

Alexis Claude Maurice

Arsenal could well return to Lorient this summer following the acquisition of Matteo Guendouzi last to sign French forward Alexis Claude Maurice.

Our friends over at GunnersTown wrote about the youngster back in January and he comes highly recommended.

It seems like Arsenal are looking beyon the more established wingers in France – the likes of Nicolas Pepe and  Ismael Sarr – and are looking at the next generation.

Christopher Nkunku

Part of that next generation is Charles Nkunku was Unai Emery would have worked with whilst at PSG.

Arsenal were linked with him in January. A late deal fell through at the last.

Versatility is the key with Nkunku, with him having played in Ligue 1 in midfield, attack and defence. A French Ainsley Maitland Niles. Could be a good asset to add in the middle of the park alongside Niles, Geundouzi, Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira

William Saliba

Arsenal are also looking to France for a long term replacement for Laurent Koscielny.

18-year-old St Etienne defender is reportedly top of the list, although the £26million I have seen quoted does seem a lot for a player with only a handful of appearances.

St Etienne reportedly want to sell but be loaned the player back for next season.

Samuel Umtiti

25-year-old Samuel Umtiti is reportedly on the way out of Barcelona, with Arsenal and Manchester United leading the way.

The French central defender has been plagued by injured and lost his starting place for Barcelona earlier this last season.

He is a proven international class defender, but there have to be question marks over those knees.

Ibrahima Konaté & Dayot Upamecano

Arsenal have been linked with RB Leipzig pair Ibrahima Konaté & Dayot Upamecano already this summer.

The pair sit between Saliba and Umtiti in terms of experience.

Upamecano is a little more experienced, with Konaté perhaps being a little more talented. There is not much to split them.

Adrien Rabiot

The last man on this list is someone we have been linked with for what feels like a decade.

Despite having been around forever, Rabiot is still only 24.

Emery is reportedly targeting a box to box midfielder to compete alongside Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira.

Having worked with Emery before, and available on a free transfer, Rabiot could be a good replacement for Aaron Ramsey (the defensive side of his game at least).

He has had a troublesome couple of years and his attitude left him to miss out on a potential World Cup medal. But he is a talent.

It would not surprise me to see Arsenal sign at least two from this list over the summer.

Keenos