Arsenal coach hails chief executive’s impact

As newspapers across Europe paint a picture of him panicking at the potential departure of Cesc Fabregas to Real Madrid or Barcelona, Arsene Wenger, the coach of English soccer club Arsenal, has chosen to praise just one man this week - club chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

Gazidis, appointed at the end of November, has overseen the signings of Andrei Arshavin and Thomas Vermaelen in deals with a combined value of well over US$30 million, and has tied a number of the club's star players down to new contracts. For Wenger, who suffered a blow when his close working relationship with David Dein ended when the former vice-chairman of the club was forced out in 2007, Gazidis' work has provided a vital helping hand.

"We are starting to notice the differences he is making at the club," the Frenchman said of Gazidis this week. "Everyone with a big responsibility like that has a different personality which they bring to the job, and he is making a few changes. Ivan Gazidis came in and he lightened the workload for (acting managing director) Ken Friar, certainly, and myself too."

Fabregas, meanwhile, has pledged his future to the Gunners, saying: "Let me make myself absolutely crystal clear. I am wholeheartedly committed to Arsenal and my future lies with this great club."

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