Arsenal legend, Ian Wright believes that it was David Dein’s departure from the Emirates that led to the club’s downfall in the past decade.
Dein was the co-owner and vice-chairman of the Gunners from 1983 to 2007. Ever since he moved on from the North London outfit, Arsenal have failed to secure any major trophies and they are about to play their fourth season without Champions League football.
“With David Dein going, that was the beginning of the end,” Wright explained. “He’s the kind of person, in respects of football and knowledge and vision and love for the club, who you can’t afford to lose.”
The Englishman also stated that letting Aaron Ramsey walk for nothing is a sign of the club’s deep-rooted problems. He said, “Decisions were being made, in respect of Aaron Ramsey’s contract, before it was starting to run down and were being made by people who were no longer there.
“So we are talking about a £60million player that should have been a case of ‘OK, we will have to sell you now’ and not let it get to a stage where it has got to.”
Wright further added, “Right now Arsenal are in a position where it is interesting what is going to happen in the summer without the money to spend or qualifying for the Champions League and going back into the Europa League. Have the players improved? Has the mentality improved? What system is he going to play now?
“There’s a lot of questions to be asked and you just have to hope something happens.”
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