Agent’s column: Arsenal’s best chance for title, UCL change is good, Chelsea’s brilliant business and more

In his fortnightly exclusive column for CaughtOffside, Jon Smith, one of football’s first-ever agents and a man who was an integral figure in the forming of the Premier League, discusses why this season is Arsenal’s best chance in 20 years to win the title, why change in the Champions League and a European Super League is good for football, why Todd Boehly did some brilliant business for Chelsea – and more! 

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Saudis need to focus on the long term not just throwing money at football

I’m hearing that the Saudi Pro League are going to be spending a lot of money in January and in the summer, which is exciting for people in the business and intriguing to people watching from the sidelines.

Most people don’t really see or get involved with the league outside of the local supporters, but I believe the league have got a long-term visual.

Boxing, golf and various other sports are being played there now and I think tennis is one of the next sports that Saudi would like to add to their portfolio.

Football is obviously a major player and as we’ve said in the past that’s for political reasons, but that takes time. It’s not going to happen overnight.

I think if there is a danger, then in my humble opinion, it will be because the league becomes a circus, and not taken as reality.

You can’t just throw money at it. In all those leagues that did that, like China, it just doesn’t work.

Saudi must have a constructive 10-year plan at least; what this league looks like and what they want it to look like.

Is the Pro League just a political play or a real attempt ahead of the World Cup and beyond to do like they did in the USA, where they had the World Cup in 94 and then MLS kind of grew out of the World Cup?

Rather than just continuously just buying in talent, the league needs competitive competitions which makes interesting viewing for supporters, and engages with them beyond their own boundaries.

In my opinion, they also have to be focusing hard on what happens next. How they will create that next phase and the one after that would be the telling points for me of how all this is going to end up.

Champions League change could be good for football… as could a Super League

Being one of the pioneers of the Premier League I’m not against change. Change is good. Evolution is good.

I sometimes think it’s a bit rabid when people get hold of change and then they take change to the nth degree, however.

Changing the football landscape is good because it