Ivan Gazidis Says Arsenal Want 'Top-Quality Players,' Talks Arsene Wenger's Deal

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has assured the club's fans they will be hunting top targets in the summer transfer window and "begged" supporters to unite after manager Arsene Wenger was given a new two-year deal. 

Speaking at a fan event on Thursday, Gazidis attempted to soothe any concerns among the support after the Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League last season, ensuring those in attendance big names are on the way.

Per Reuters, he said: "We're looking for top-quality players. We've got three times as many scouts as we had four years ago. I believe that to be a world-class football club you've got to be world class off the pitch."

On the decision to hand Wenger a new two-year contract, Gazidis insisted it was a business decision that made sense for all parties despite unrest emerging among sections of the support during a lacklustre 2016-17 campaign:

"It wasn't a sentimental decision. It was a mutual one ... I care about the club and those values. I want the club to be successful."

"There has been disagreement. There has been a lack of unity and dissatisfaction. The board knows that. I beg you, please come together and give our manager and this team support. I want the atmosphere to be united, and it has been a struggle because we haven't had that."

Arsenal failed to clinch UEFA Champions League qualification for the first time in more than 20 years last term, and unrest has grown with star Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil now in the final year of their contracts.

Goal's Chris Wheatley provided further quotes from Thursday's Q&A session, where Gazidis pointed to this summer's early capture of former Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer as evidence of their transfer motivation:

But the club is yet to make any significant expenditures, unlike last year such as the £30 million deal that brought Granit Xhaka to the Emirates Stadium from Borussia Monchengladbach one year ago.

While the fee paid for Xhaka may have been substantial, few will consider the Swiss star to have justified his price tag just yet, while the club's Premier League peers have continued to benefit from big spending.

Gazidis was also reportedly "heckled" by fans present for his defence of majority stakeholder Stan Kroenke, per Metro. He defended the American's handling of the transfer budget despite concerns raised over how much money he takes out of the club.

Per that report, Gazidis also suggested the priority is to target players who will immediately improve Arsenal's XI rather than add depth, although recent speculation suggests to the contrary, said Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol:

"

Sky in Italy linking Arsenal with move for Nice left back Dalbert, even though they've already signed Kolasinac in that position this summer

— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) June 29, 2017"

Many Gunners fans viewed last season's run to fifth in the English top flight as the final sign Wenger should end his 21-year reign at the club, with a third FA Cup win in four seasons not enough to extinguish the discontent.

The supporters will be no strangers to hearing promises and assurances of big plans, but this needs to be different to other summers as Arsenal seek to send a message of intent ahead of a hopeful return to Europe's peak.