By Kieran Maguire

19th Sep, 2023 | 6:17am

Kieran Maguire: Candidates lining up to replace key Arsenal figure after unexpected exit

Arsenal will have a ‘long queue of candidates’ lining up to replace CEO Vinai Venkatesham next summer.

That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who exclusively told Football Insider that Arsenal’s growing commercial revenue and £100million matchday income makes them an ‘attractive proposition’.

The Gunners revealed on Thursday (14 September) that Chief Executive Venkatesham will leave the club next summer after spending 14 years at the North London club.

Venkatesham first joined Arsenal in 2010 before being promoted to CEO in 2020.

Maguire believes Arsenal are ‘moving in the right direction’ both on and off the pitch and so will not struggle to find a suitable candidate to fill the void at boardroom level.

“Arsenal are a very attractive proposition to any CEO,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.

“Being a CEO of a club is definitely a 24/7 job so you can understand why somebody might step down and want a fresh challenge.

“I imagine there will be a long queue of candidates willing to throw their hat into the ring because the club appears to be moving in the right direction.

“They have a £100m-a-year matchday revenue which puts them in the top three in the Premier League.

“They are starting to grow their commercial revenue, which is one area which they have perhaps punched beneath their weight in recent years.

“So it makes the club a very attractive proposition for a new CEO to take charge.“

In other news, Thomas Partey ready to quit Arsenal in January if he doesn’t get straight back in XI