Gazidis: We'll survive fifth finish

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Gunners are currently fifth in the Premier League, five points behind Aston Villa in the fourth qualification place, and face the possibility of not being in Europe's premier club competition next season.

While reaching the Champions League is viewed as imperative for the finances of clubs likes the Gunners, Gazidis believes they could cope with missing out. Arsenal generate more than £90million a year from ticket sales alone.

Gazidis said: "This club is in a position to withstand a year without Champions League qualification, not that we are anticipating it."

The 44-year-old took up his new post at Emirates Stadium last month after a 14-year association with Major League Soccer, which he helped establish.

The South Africa-born Oxford graduate, though, is uncertain whether the Premier League could adopt the practices he introduced, such as a salary cap or even discarding promotion or relegation.

"I'm not sure you can ever take the US sports business model and transplant it into European football," added Gazidis. "I don't think it would work for a range of different reasons, some of them logistical. How do you get your arms around a worldwide market to impose a salary cap, for example? But there are cultural issues also. Abandoning promotion and relegation may be a sounder business model but culturally that is not acceptable."

Gazidis describes himself as a traditionalist, one whose instinct is to vote against any motion to play Premier League matches abroad.