Gunners can match City’s big spending, insists chief Gazidis

ARSENAL chief executive Ivan Gazidis claims the club’s record profits mean they can continue to match the likes of big-spending Manchester City on the pitch.

Ahead of today’s home clash with West Brom the Gunners yesterday announced pre-tax profits of £56m (€65.8m) for the year ending May 31, 2010 and that they have paid off all the debt on their Highbury Square development.

The figure has been boosted by their property sales but the football business alone contributed £44.8m (€52.6m) in pre-tax profit, a slight drop due to Arsenal having five fewer home games last season and increased wage costs.