In recent months there has been a noticeable trend of Arsenal related exclusives from The Times.

For example, a story that Arsenal were going to send Per Merteacker on loan in January, and before that how Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were demanding £250,000 a week each to sign new contracts with the clubs.

Apropos of nothing, today’s Times (£) has another Arsenal related exclusive, as Matt Hughes reveals that Ivan Gazidis is ‘in demand’ for a number of ‘top jobs’ in the USA.

The story says that he’s seen as a candidate to take over the presidency of the US Soccer Federation, as well as someone to head up the 2026 World Cup committee should the bid from the USA and Mexico be successful.

The Arsenal Chief Executive has plenty of US experience, helping to found Major League Soccer, and becoming its deputy commissioner in 2001.

Since 2009 he has been the Chief Executive of Arsenal, filling the gap left behind by the departure of David Dein.

There have been steady advances in the business side of the club, but in recent times Gazidis has remained more or less silent on the future of Arsene Wenger.

He spoke earlier this month about this season being a catalyst for change, although very little seems to be forthcoming.

In 2011, when asked about who the manager was accountable to, he now infamously said:

“Arsene is ultimately accountable to the fans – they ultimately make judgement. If you are seeing the relationship between the fans and the manager break down over time that is unsustainable. But I don’t think we are anywhere near that.”

It’s clear that this has had an impact with fans as frustration with underperformance and the inability to mount a genuine title challenge has continued.

Arsenal fans needn’t worry too much, the report says that Gazidis will eschew these fantastic opportunities to go to America, and will instead help ‘oversee a smooth transition to the post-Wenger era, with the Frenchman expected to step down as manager in two year’s time after signing a new contract this summer’.

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