26 Apr 2018 17:13:41
We have had a few but i think tonights game is probably the biggest game in arsenals recent history for one reason or another. Well the tie is at least. The players need to step up and prove they are up for the fight and give everything. Athletico normally are very solid and give nothing awau cheaply. I predict a tight game. So it will probably be 5-5.

1.) 26 Apr 2018
26 Apr 2018 17:35:35
I want to win us this game more than any over the last few years but that's more down to Arsene than any future benefit for the club in general.
If champions league football comes our way next season happy days if it doesn't hey ho no, hopefully it won't be to long before we are back in the thick of things getting 80+ points on a regular basis most seasons, it's been a long while since we did that, 2008 I think.

2.) 26 Apr 2018
26 Apr 2018 18:17:54
Gunner, for me the wenger issue is a wenger issue, the bigger issue is for this club. We don't need our hands tied again going forwards next season, without champions league status and money. You can very quickly become also rans in this game and we are heading the wrong direction. That needs changing.

3.) 26 Apr 2018
26 Apr 2018 18:41:36
Champions league participation money is about 20 million Steve so in today's football far from the beach all end all mate, Liverpool and United still attracted players without offering champions league football and so have we this season.
Yes we want to be in it but beong premier league competive is far more important that simply being in the champions league.

4.) 26 Apr 2018
26 Apr 2018 19:07:41
Lets hope we can get over this difficult hurdle , win the final.
So we can get the right manager, freshen up the squad
Steve I think I have overstepped the mark and got personal. i think we want the same thing, but maybe from different angles.
So I must apologise ( that doesn’t mean I don’t think you’re a prat at times ) lol
So let’s cheer the boys on tonight.

5.) 26 Apr 2018
26 Apr 2018 19:21:50
Gunner the champions league bring far more revenue than that from other things. Spuds and liverpool are working on a lot lower budget than us. They will only sustain it if they keep growing and spending which they can only do by being in the champs league. We need to be in the champs league to sustain our spending. I had read the champs league can actually be worth 50 to 100 mil depending how far you go. The El if you win it is worth about 15 mil. Whatever the figures big clubs cannot do without CL status.

{Ed002's Note - Clubs plan their finances over five years and the "leading" English sides base income including being in the CL on x of 5 occasions over the following five years. And this has gone on for many, many years, but now the amount of income from the Premier League eclipses the CL money which has largely become a bit of a bonus in an unfortunate way. It is all down to the distorted income that the English clubs have Steve. Perhaps I could end this by explaininging:

The Premier League prize money is made up of one fixed and two variable amounts, a fixed equal share of the overall pot which is fixed, merit based on position that drops about £2M per placing) and a fee based on matches the club featured in. These are rough figures as they are expected to be split up this season:

1. Fixed: £84.4; Merit £38.5
2. Fixed: £84.4; Merit £36.5
3. Fixed: £84.4; Merit £34.5
4. Fixed: £84.4; Merit £32.5
5. Fixed: £84.4; Merit £30.5

Match Fees are likely to be in the region of:

Manchester City - £34.5
Manchester United - £38.0
Liverpool - £31.0
Spurs - £31.0
Chelsea - £34.5
Arsenal in the order of £31.0M

So Liverpool coming second would see prize money of something like £151M and with overseas television money (divided equally between all clubs) making an estimated £200M total. This will drop about £2M per place. So maybe £190M for Arsenal.

For the Champions League:
Clubs in first qualifying round but going no further: €220,000
Clubs in second qualifying round but going no further: €320,000
Clubs in third qualifying round but going no further: €420,000
Clubs knocked out in the play-off round: €800,000
Domestic champions failing to qualify for the play-offs or group stage get an addition payment of €260,000
Qualifying for the group stage: €12.7m
For each group stage win: €1.5m
For each group stage draw: €500,000
Teams competing in the round of 16: €6m
Teams competing in the quarter finals: €6.5m
Teams competing in the semi-finals: €7.5m
Losing finalist: €11m
Champions League winners: €15.5m
There are also “market pool”related payments distributed according to the proportional value of each television market for games in the group stage on. This is a total of something like €480M to €520M – so could result in significant additional income for clubs. It can be disproportionately allocated if those sides which are a major television draw face each other, and it takes account of previous years rankings, previous season’s domestic league positions, how many sides from each nation partake and how the other sides perform (giving the national ranking coefficients). As such it is not possible to say what each club will receive and even trying to work it out after the amounts are declared is very difficult.

Add to that the income from the "gate", the game money. Arsenal get far more income from the size of the stadium, the tickets prices, the significantly better corporate matchday income - London is still more attactive that Manchester and Liverpool where it is grim, wet and we see the cobbled streets Northwest of England strewn with dead & dying pit ponies, mixed chances of football at the highest level and only chips and fried curry to eat.

Hopefully this clarifies your misunderstanding Steve.}

6.) 26 Apr 2018
26 Apr 2018 19:42:50
Thanks Ed 02. I think it clears it all. So champs football is still mighty important, even with the premier league revenues. Is that right.

{Ed002's Note - Another way of looking at it Steve is that money isn't an issue to English sides. Although of course you can expect other sides from mainland Europe and else where to boost the transfer fees.}

7.) 26 Apr 2018
26 Apr 2018 19:45:27
Welch i have never had an arsenal problem. I never will. Its a new chapter now and wenger goes into the history books like all the other great managers at this club. I hope the next manager does the same. If he doesn't i will set you on him.