There are rumours that between them, Arse & Chavs have only sold 6,000 tickets for Baku.

I went with the Thomas Cook flights as advertised on Arsenal.com. Didn't realise at the time that Thomas Cook are in such big financial.trouble. I hope that doesn't explain why I've still not heard which London airport I'll be going from and at what time.

I'll be amazed if Chelsea haven't done something similar to get their fans there and back. Anyone heard what airline they're using?

I read Saturday Arsenal have sold 2600 and Chelsea have sold 600

I read that Thomas Cook are handling both teams' travelling arrangements - presumably in separate planes.

Have you heard yet whether it's a direct flight, Bern?

You probably don't want to hear this Bern but £979 is an outrageous price for a flights-only day trip, on crammed planes, with no luggage and no other customer benefits. You can bet it'll be a 'dry' flight too.

You could get return tickets on scheduled flights to pretty much anywhere in the world for that.

As I say - respect!

They would argue they are "self-sustaining" with the wheeling and dealing in the transfer market (esp. Chelsea) and through self-generated revenue & sponsorships - in fact MC is arguing they are conforming to the financial fair play with those dodgy multimillion sponsorships.. everyone knows that's not true. But it is an admission that self-sustaining model is the correct one.

know a number of Chav$ fans who stopped going when Abramovich arrived as they felt the club lost it's identity
Mind you, I also know a few who have given up going since he stopped spending as they felt they would no longer be able to compete for major titles.

Bet they've gained many, many more fans than they've lost since Abramovich took them over. That's what winning trophies does to your fan base.

but I've seen every cup final we've been in since my first, Leeds in the League Cup in 1968. I had to go, and the only thing that will stop me is Thomas Cook going out of business in the next nine days. Which probably isn't impossible.

Indeed you are right. It's more of a grudging acknowledgement by the owners of MC they need to play by the rules (by bending them). But as per HoddGooner, they are fans who do not enjoy the success brought/bought by Abramovich.

Anyway, what about you Bernard? Supposed you are the owner but without unlimitless fund. Would you pursue a self-sustaining model?

Steve Bould leaving and Freddie taking his place

Not surprising as he has even stopped celebrating our goals. So dysfunctional

I wonder who would be the better coach Freddie or Wilford

You'd have to say Thomas Cook managing to rack up a 1.5 billion pound loss for the first half of this year takes some doing .

If things go tits up after you arrive .... at least the camel trip home will make this the most memorable of your finals no matter what the result .

Best go for a dromedary the two humped job , probably offers more comfort over the 'single' seater model .

Probably made all their staff redundant before going out of business.

Match ticket came this morning and received the visa to get into Azerbaijan last week. The only thing I haven't had are the flight tickets from Thomas Cook. Sent them a message asking what London airport I'll be flying from, the times of the flights, and whether there will be coaches to take fans from the airport in Baku to the ground and back again after the game.

Sent that message last week and I've not heard a single bloody thing from Thomas Cook. Probably made all their staff redundant before going out of business.

EDIT: Just had a look on Arsenal.com and it now says Thomas Cook travel for the game is no longer available. In panic I phoned the ticket office, and thankfully they said that's because all the flight tickets are sold and they're not putting on any more planes. It seems Thomas Cook are sending out the itinerary for the trip this Friday. Phew!

I wonder who would be the better coach Freddie or Wilford

Obviously Freddie

So Čech is joining Chelsea as sporting director after next week.

Im sorry for me there’s too much of a conflict of interest and he shouldn’t play in the final. Leno all the way

If I was the owner "without unlimitless fund", by which I assume you mean limited financial resources, as an Arsenal owner I would spend as much as I could afford to bring success on the pitch. Sod the self-sustaining strategy. If, however, that still wasn't enough to win trophies, I would look to sell to someone with unlimited wealth who would ignore any self-sustaing strategy by spending enough to bring the biggest trophies.

If I owned another club I would pursue a strict self-sustaining strategy so I wouldn't have to put a single penny of my own money into it, particularly if it was a club I didn't like or had zero affinity with. That appears to be what Arsenal have with Kroenke.

I agree 100%.

Obviously Freddie

I am thinking Freddie will soon be up there with the greats in this coaching lark. No doubt Real will be in for him in a year or two. Meanwhile, last week I thought I saw Sylvain moving the plant pots around at my local B&Q.

I am thinking Freddie will soon be up there with the greats in this coaching lark. No doubt Real will be in for him in a year or two.

I am thinking Freddie will soon be up there with the greats in this coaching lark. No doubt Real will be in for him in a year or two. Meanwhile, last week I thought I saw Sylvain moving the plant pots around at my local B&Q.

I agree 100%.

Where the plan pots catching him offside?

Pictures of Aubameyang and Lacazette in next years kit doing the rounds on Twitter. If they are the final version then I think people will like them. The home kit in particular looks like a retro 1987/88 season kit. The away kit looks a bit more like the shade of yellow/gold we wore in 2002 when we won the title at OT.....but with a hint of the bruised banana kit about it.