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Five key things Arsenal must do this summer to turn the club around

Sam Elliott
Something needs to change: What can Arsenal do to get fans returning to see their team play? Here’s five ideas
Something needs to change: What can Arsenal do to get fans returning to see their team play? Here’s five ideas

Arsenal fans perhaps always knew it wasn’t going to be a classic season from an early stage, but quite this bad? Few would have seen that coming.

Saved by a competition they don’t want to be in, their only hope of salvaging anything from another below par campaign is if they put in a monumental shift against Atletico Madrid over two legs in the Europa League.

With their away form, you could forgive their sceptical supporters for fearing the worst.

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The Gunners’ miserable results away from the Emirates in 2018 are only matched in English football’s top six divisions by doomed National League North club Tamworth.

A summer of soul searching lies ahead at a club fast running out of ideas.

We have come up with five things Arsenal need to do between now and August to get the club back on the right path again, on and off the pitch.

Let the fans in: Arsenal need to communicate more with the fans over their manager’s future
Let the fans in: Arsenal need to communicate more with the fans over their manager’s future

Come clean about Arsene Wenger

Let’s be having you. A statement is needed to clarify exactly what is happening with the club’s manager – transparency sooner rather than later.

Arsenal’s no-news approach is annoying fans, and with season ticket renewals hitting doormats and inboxes, the supporters have a right to understand the roadmap ahead. The ‘you don’t need to know’ attitude is turning supporters away.

If it’s Wenger next season, tell them. If it’s Wenger next season working alongside, say, Patrick Vieira – linked in today’s papers – tell them. If a change is coming this summer, tell them.

Silence on the subject is not golden.

The nice guys: Santi Cazorla could be offered a new deal despite severe injury issues
The nice guys: Santi Cazorla could be offered a new deal despite severe injury issues

Stop doing stupid things

You won’t find many people with a bad word to say about Santi Cazorla. An immaculate pro, a great player but his career at the top level – tragically – is essentially over.

He’s had no good fortune at all and you can’t fail to have sympathy with him, but giving the midfielder a new contract – probably worth upward of £50,000 a week plus his sign on, is disastrous business practice.

Arsenal did the same with Tomas Rosicky. Talented beyond doubt, but a dozen games a season was not enough to justify £60,000 a week. Ten years and 170 games is just not enough.

They can’t make the same mistakes again with luckless Cazorla.

Work together: Arsenal Fan TV is a highlight after matches – but usually with rival fans
Work together: Arsenal Fan TV is a highlight after matches – but usually with rival fans

Get some control of Arsenal Fan TV

Controversial, and the reality is there’s little they can do about the post match rant-fest, but it’s whipping fans into a frenzy and helping further the divide.

It’s TV gold if you don’t support Arsenal, but for those who do it’s nowhere near as popular.

The internet channel isn’t doing the club much good, and maybe the Gunners media and communications execs may need to look at ways of working with them.

Do the deal: Jack Wilshere has been offered a ‘long-term’ Arsenal contact with them expecting a decision before the World Cup
Do the deal: Jack Wilshere has been offered a ‘long-term’ Arsenal contact with them expecting a decision before the World Cup

Be ruthless – and don’t take a risk on Wilshere

Arsenal require a sizeable clear-out this summer and what they don’t need is unheard ofs replacing the players they need to try and get shot of.

Petr Cech needs to be placed gently into retirement. Shkodran Mustafi is nowhere near good enough while they need to admit defeat with Calum Chambers, Rob Holding and Granit Xhaka for starters.

Allowing Jack Wilshere to leave would cause uproar and is probably too big a risk considering his fitness improvement, and with the form of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain since leaving for Liverpool.

They can’t afford for the fans’ favourite to shine for someone else. But they must take that chance.

Ticket trauma: The Gunners need to work harder to get non-attending season tickets holders to tell the club they aren’t coming
Ticket trauma: The Gunners need to work harder to get non-attending season tickets holders to tell the club they aren’t coming

Sort the stadium out

Why is it that you can’t buy a ticket to see Arsenal yet every game there’s probably around 10,000 spare seats?

Simple. Season ticket holders can’t be bothered. Can’t blame them really, even if they are saying goodbye to more than £50 per game they don’t attend.

But what the club need is to buy back the seats in advance that fans aren’t going to use, part refund the season ticket holder and allow those who can’t usually go the opportunity to see a game.

Better atmosphere, increased income for the club and less mickey taking all round.