A key footballing figure who oversaw Arsenal’s decade of decline has now landed a new role in the game eight years after leaving north London.
The final seasons of Arsene Wenger’s reign at Arsenal coupled with Unai Emery’s doomed 18 months with the Gunners is, for many, considered one of the worst spells the Premier League giants have endured in their history.
Whilst there were three FA Cups and a UEFA Europa League final, these accolades were often claimed in a background of uncertainty surrounding Arsenal as they fell from regular top-four finishers to something of a laughing stock in England.
And one of the key figures during this period has now secured a new role in football.
Ivan Gazidis named Saint-Etienne president after Arsenal and AC Milan spells
As per Saint-Etienne’s official Twitter account, former Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has been named as the French side’s new president following their promotion back to Ligue 1.
One of the most influential figures at Arsenal in the last 15 years, Gazidis was influential in the appointment of Emery after Wenger announced his retirement from management in 2018.
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And given how disastrous that hiring went down, Gazidis’ reputation at Arsenal is far from perfect, with many fans still blaming the South African sporting executive for how far back the Gunners were set back.
Indeed, with Arsenal now heading in the right direction under the current board structure, Gazidis’ departure in 2017 can be viewed as a turning point for the Gunners, who could still be struggling if the executive was still there.
Arsenal can be proud of their progress since Gazidis’ departure
There have been many turning points in the last few years that have all led up to Arsenal becoming the team they are now under Mikel Arteta, and Gazidis leaving was certainly one of them.
The former chief executive oversaw a poor period in Arsenal’s history despite successes in the FA Cup, with the hiring of Emery something that never should have happened in north London.
Yet the lessons learnt from Gazidis’ tenure have been crucial, and Arsenal have been essentially flawless in the years since the South African’s departure in how to run a top football club and how to compete.