As if it wasn’t already eagerly marked in your diary, today saw the Arsenal annual general meeting take place at the Emirates, giving around 200 fans and shareholders the opportunity to voice their concerns and grievances directly to the club’s board.
Things got off to a suitably rocky start when Sir Chips Keswick and Stan Kroenke Jr were both re-elected to the board despite the majority of fans loathing the pair of them.
Basically, the farcical meeting went south from that point onward, with the live-tweet coverage from inside the room offering a succession of gems in the process.
It began with a solid period of general unrest, as the shareholders became increasingly exasperated by owner Stan Kroenke Snr’s reluctance to break his now-trademark silence…
Keswick gets up to defend Kroenke from criticism. One shareholder yells out: “Why doesn’t he say something?”
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) October 26, 2017
Keswick being interrupted by shouts from the floor demanding Kroenke addresses the room.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) October 26, 2017
The sniggering then set in, as the Arsenal board adopted a “see no ships” approach to the issues on hand…
Sir Chips Keswick on diversity within the board: “The reality is we have a diverse, modern organisation.” (cue sniggering in the room).
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) October 26, 2017
Chuck in a splash of preempted hostility…
Gazidis was reading that strong defence of Keswick from a piece of paper. Must have anticipated hostility towards the #afc chairman.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) October 26, 2017
More sniggering…
Heckles from floor that the questions aren’t actually being answered.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) October 26, 2017
Heckling…
Wenger tells Arsenal AGM, cash disparities mean Aston Villa could no longer win European Cup.
“At least they won it,” shareholder shouts out— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 26, 2017
Gravity-defying feats of mental gynamstics…
Gazidis: “In the end, to win the PL, we need to do better than all our competitors in every field…but without putting finances into jeopardy
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) October 26, 2017
Gazidis claims that according to objective metrics – points v transfer expenditure – no club has over-performed as much as Arsenal.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) October 26, 2017
All hail Arsenal, champions of the balance sheet metric!
There was also a splash of poetic soul-searching from Arsene Wenger…
Arsene Wenger on Arsenal: “A football club is about the past, present and the future but the weight of the present has now become heavier.” pic.twitter.com/EgjCx1yMRj
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) October 26, 2017
Which quickly gave way to frustration rising through dissension and into low-level fury…
Lady rises says she’s asked same question for last 5 years re make up of the board.
— Darren (@DarrenArsenal1) October 26, 2017
Keswick: “Thank you for your statement madam.”
Heckles from the floor.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) October 26, 2017
As Gazidis claims #afc are performing well, heckler responds with: “Is losing 10-2 to Bayern Munich successful?”
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) October 26, 2017
Sir Chips struggling badly here as we’ve moved to the unscripted part of the AGM. Furious shouts as questions not being answered.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) October 26, 2017
Arsenal chair Chips Keswick angering shareholders by refusing to answer questions. Jeers in the room. Gazidis asking for shouting to stop
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 26, 2017
Keswick: “You get respect from this side of the floor, please return it.”
Boos all around.
Keswick: “I think you’re getting very angry.”
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) October 26, 2017
And a huffy little retort from Sir Chips to close the whole thing out…
Sir Chips on Kroenke speaking: “Read the Daily Telgraph today and you’ll find out. I declare the meeting closed.”
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) October 26, 2017
For context, Kroenke told The Telegraph on the morning of the AGM that he remains fully committed to Arsenal for the long haul.
Keswick brings it to a close to loud boos: “I think you are getting very angry so there is no point continuing.”
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) October 26, 2017
The meeting is now declared closed.
There’s a slow hand clap from the floor.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) October 26, 2017
All in all, a roaring success. See you all again next year.