Thursday 25 October 2012 15:32, UK
Arsene Wenger insists qualification for the Champions League means more to Arsenal than winning a domestic cup competition.
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis, chairman Peter Hill-Wood and majority shareholder Stan Kroenke were all heckled at the club's annual general meeting on Thursday over the club's financial strategy and failure to win a trophy since 2005. Gazidis had to call order to get the AGM back on track after being accused by one shareholder of "ruining the club" with his financial policies. Wenger, though, received a warm reception after his address which ended with a call for unity. He added: "We want first to win the Premier League, that is what we are here for and that is what we want to fight for - believe me will give absolutely every drop of energy to achieve that and will do that again this year. "It is still important that we keep our strength and stay united for the good of Arsenal, sometimes you can forget that." Gazidis had earlier said that Arsenal would be able to compete with the world's biggest and best clubs as UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations become more rigorously enforced. "In the next two years, we will have the financial resources to sit and compete among the leading clubs in the world, which is an extraordinary achievement," he said. Kroenke was asked whether dividends were to be paid to shareholders which would mean money being taken out of the club at some future stage. The American tycoon, whose group also owns US sports franchises the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Rapids, the Colorado Avalanche and the St Louis Rams, said: "This club is run through the board. I have always been respectful of that process. "Aside from that, as majority shareholder it is clear we have a record in sports around the world. "We have never put any debt on this club for acquisitions (during the takeover) and never said money was not available to spend. We acquire through our own resources."
