Club president uses Arsenal example to ask for change in Italy

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·8 November 2025

Club president uses Arsenal example to ask for change in Italy

Arsenal’s move from Highbury to the Emirates was a major financial step that allowed the club to increase its revenue and strengthen its position for the future. Highbury was a treasured home where the Gunners created lasting memories, yet the club has not won a league crown since leaving it. Despite its sentimental value, Arsenal had clearly outgrown the ground and needed a more modern, larger venue to sustain long-term progress, which led to the construction of the Emirates Stadium.

After the move, Arsenal faced financial pressures linked to the cost of building their new home. The club had to manage debts carefully and even reportedly sold some players to balance the books. Authorities later allowed the development of housing around the Emirates, which helped Arsenal recoup part of their investment and provided an important boost to their finances during a difficult transitional period.

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Napoli’s Frustration with Stadium Approval

Napoli have also sought a new stadium for some time, but progress has been slow. The process in Italian football is more complicated than in England, which has frustrated their president, Aurelio de Laurentiis. The outspoken executive has often discussed the matter, pointing to the lack of flexibility in Italy compared with the cooperation shown to English clubs.

As quoted by Calcio e Finanza, he said: “In 2013, we went to London to play against Arsenal. I visited the Emirates Stadium: 200 seating areas and 60,700 seats. The city granted the club permission to build housing in the area around the new stadium to immediately recoup its investment. This has allowed Arsenal to remain at the top for 15 years, despite not winning a Scudetto since 2004.

“We need approval for residential use, even if not adjacent to the stadium. Those properties would guarantee income that would support the investment in the long term, as happened with Arsenal.”

Emirates Stadium (getty images)

Financial Lessons from Arsenal’s Example

De Laurentiis’s comments highlight how crucial collaboration with local authorities can be in modern football. Arsenal’s model shows that strategic planning and urban development can ensure financial stability, even without constant success on the pitch. Napoli’s experience, by contrast, reflects how administrative challenges can slow progress and limit a club’s ability to grow sustainably.

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