Good afternoon , ladies and gentlemen. Once again we are here together. I celebrated recently ten years at the club (applause) and I'd like to take advantage of this occasion to thank you all - the board, the shareholders, and all the fans all across the world who have given me consistent support.
I've learned a lot in ten years. I remember the day I arrived - and I see what the club is today. I must say the club looks much better than ten years ago - I must say I'm much worse (laughter). But that's quite fair, it could be the other way round (laughter).
I learned as well how big this club is. I remember when we were speaking about improving the capacity of the stadium, we were speaking fifty thousand, fifty five. We went up to sixty and we were all thinking we were a little bit adventurous
And now we discover that in a sixty thousand seater we are sold out, nearly, in every game. So I learned how big the support of this club is. I believe the board and myself are conscious that we have to develop that love for the club. And that we have to take care of the fans who love the club.
I travel a lot, I see that we have gained thousands of fans all across the world, through the way we behave on the pitch, but as well the way we behave, the united way of life we have already shown to the outside. And I think that's very, very important.
And for me a board meeting and an AGM today is as well a good occasion to show how united we are and that we are on the same wavelength to produce the quality of the game, and as well to have the quality of attitude, and how much we love the game together.
Because basically, if we are together here, it is so to improve that on a consistent basis. If we have built a bigger stadium, the people who come after us have something fantastic to work with and can offer something that people love. That's our first target.
I believe that since 2002 we have been consistent in our approach to being first or second, to be in cup finals.We have reached a final last year, unfortunately we could not win it. But we got in that final 13 minutes enough frustration to come back and try to win it this season.
People at the moment say we have the third team or the fourth team, I don't really know. But I know one thing. I have a team with plenty of talents which is very hungry. I believe we have a very fair chance to fight for the Premiership, to fight for the Champions League as well, and to fight for the FA Cup and the Carling Cup. It will take a lot of energy but I have enough belief, and I think if I can share that with my team, to do another great season.
We have slowly developed and rejuvenated our team, and I d like to thank, as well, the big players who have left us. You have all been at the testimonial for Dennis Bergkamp who has achieved ten years at the club. Robert Pires and Sol Campbell have left us. And I would like to thank them publicly for what they've brought to the club, not only the quality of performances they've given to the club, but through their attitude and the high professionalism they have shown to our younger players.
I think Arsenal is about values, character, under difficult circumstances sometimes - David Dein always reminds me, we never do things easy at Arsenal, and that's proved to be right many times. It's the kind of character you need to be successful at the club. It's the first time we are in the new stadium and I feel in the future we must not forget that we are responsible for the kind of character that this club has been built on.
There are plenty of players who come back. Sometimes they move, they come back and they always say to me, 'There's something special inside here that makes life enjoyable and different than any other club.' And I'm always very proud when players say that. But I believe we have a big responsibility to keep that inside our club, together.
I think another concern, maybe, in England, we have developed less English players than young foreign talents. It is down to one basic reason that we have recently produced less talent. Because we have responded later with the quality of the academies..
But I think here at the club, with Richard Carr, we have really developed our youth system. And now we will, in the next three or four years, produce real domestic talent. Because we are bringing top domestic talent to the club.
We are at the front of another season where we expect a lot. The only thing I can say on behalf of my players, and my staff, is that the energy level I have, and the hunger I have, is bigger than ever, and I will give absolutely everything I have to be successful this season. It's down to how much we believe we can do it. We have seen that every game is a big, big battle. We have seen that again in Moscow the other night. But we've shown as well in the league recently that we can come back and compete with everybody at the top.
That will be my main target and I hope we'll meet next year, happy with what we have achieved. Thank you very much.
