Non solo primi in classifica....

Ma anche primi nel bilancio finanziario. Oramai l'Arsenal e' a pochi milioni di sterline dal bilancio del Real Madrid e queste sono cose che peseranno non poco nei prossimi anni.
l'Arsenal Holding plc ha annunciato i risultati dell'anno finanziario terminato a Maggio 2007, sotto potete vedere alcuni numeri riepilogativi mentre potete anche vedere l'intero documento originale cliccando in questo punto.

• Group turnover and operating profit at record levels:
  
  - Turnover increased by 46% to £200.8 million (2006 - £137.2 million)
  
  - Group operating profits* increased by 274% to £51.2 million (2006 - £13.7 million)
• Match day revenues from the Club’s first season at Emirates Stadium were £90.6 million, representing £3.1 million per game and being more than double the £44.1 million achieved in the previous year at Highbury.
• £260 million of bonds with long-dated maturities and a weighted average fixed interest rate of 5.3% were issued in the year to refinance all of the Group’s stadium related debt providing a significant reduction in annual debt service costs for the long term.
• The Group’s cash balances rose to £73.9 million (2006 - £35.6 million).91% of the units at “The Stadium - Highbury Square” are already pre-sold. The final completion sales value for all units is expected to comfortably exceed £300 million
• Arsène Wenger has extended his contract as Arsenal manager through to 2011 and will become the longest serving manager in the Club’s history.

Commenting on the results for the year, Peter Hill-Wood, non-executive chairman, said:

“The best way that Arsenal can continue to deliver success is by maintaining a business that pays its own way. This philosophy helped establish our objectives for the Club’s move away from Highbury and Emirates Stadium now provides Arsenal with the increased income, profitability, cash generation and firm financial foundations from which we will continue to build trophy winning Arsenal teams for many years to come.”