Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis has been a failure during his reign, says former player Stewart Robson

Criticised: Ivan Gazidis has wasted money on "average" players while Arsenal CEO, according to a former player
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Joe Krishnan26 July 2018

Arsenal supremo Ivan Gazidis has been a "failure" at the club and too often paid oversized fees for "average" players, according to former midfielder Stewart Robson.

Gazidis was backed in a statement by chairman Sir Chips Keswick on Wednesday after the club's CEO was linked with a departure to take over operations at AC Milan.

The 53-year-old has come under-fire in recent years as Arsenal stuck with Arsene Wenger before the Frenchman departed in April this year. And Robson, who made over 150 appearances for the Gunners, believes Gazidis is as much to blame as anyone for Arsenal's recent lack of success.

“His time at Arsenal will be seen as a failure,” the former Gunner told talkSPORT on Wednesday.

“There are lot of things I think he’s done wrong.

“When he came to Arsenal I knew a very high profile sports agent, who told me he was ‘the worst negotiator’ he had ever dealt with. Basically, he didn’t know his stuff.

“He said it was good for the company he was working for, because Gazidis made all the wrong deals.”

Arsenal's spending has increased significantly in recent years, namely with the signings of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for £55 million from Borussia Dortmund and £52 million man Alexandre Lacazette from French side Lyon.

Lacazette in particular has been a target for criticism after a mixed first season in the Premier League and Robson says Gazidis has too often paid over the odds.

“If you look at since he’s been in charge, Arsenal have paid too much money to average players", he added. "Therefore, when they don’t succeed, they haven’t been able to sell them.

“He was in charge of this. Yes, Arsene Wenger was in charge of the football and did most of the coaching, but in terms of the money and the contracts, Gazidis was still the negotiator, he still had to finalise those deals.”

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