Arsenal Football Club has lived through one of the most tense moments in its recent history, as everyone awaited the video assistant referee's decision on West Ham United's late equalizer. In that moment, Josh Kroenke, the club's owner, was not just an executive but a fan crumbling under the pressure like millions of supporters around the world.
Kroenke recalls, "I was on my knees in the living room, repeating: I think he touched the ball with his hand. It was a moment where every Arsenal fan held their breath. Then came the awaited decision. The referee disallowed the goal after reviewing the video technology, and Arsenal won the match... and later won the league." This was a culmination of a long journey that Kroenke described as "a journey beyond imagination," finally ending with the return of the league title to North London after a 22-year absence.
Event Details
A few years ago, Arsenal fans were holding protest banners against the Kroenke family, accusing them of treating the club like a soulless investment project. In 2019, during the European Super League crisis in 2021, the stands became a battleground against the club's ownership group, KSE. Kroenke remembers that period with bitter irony, saying, "They were hanging us from the lampposts." However, those harsh moments were a real turning point within the club.
Kroenke stated, "We wrote an apology letter ourselves and began to listen to the fans differently. We realized we had made mistakes, but we were ready to admit them." He continued, "At that time, I understood that we had a giant sleeping club, and we had to find a way to wake it up." The loss in the Europa League final to Chelsea in 2019, with a score of 4-1, was a turning point, as Kroenke said, "I returned from Baku and told my father that we needed to take a step back to move forward later."
Background & Context
Arsenal entered a painful rebuilding phase, starting with the departure of Unai Emery and the hiring of Mikel Arteta, through two disastrous seasons that saw the team finish in eighth place. However, the management was betting on a long-term project focused on young players, aiming to build a team that would peak at the same time. French defender William Saliba was one of the first key pieces in the new project, as Kroenke said, "I asked Per Mertesacker: Who is the best young defender in Europe? He immediately replied: Saliba." A few months later, the player had signed for Arsenal.
Kroenke speaks with clear admiration for Arteta, describing him as "crazy about football." He says, "All our discussions revolved around rebuilding the club's culture." However, the task was not easy, as Mikel always said, "You are either in the boat... or out of it." Removing negative elements within the club was a crucial part of the transformation process.
Impact & Consequences
Kroenke acknowledged that the signing of Declan Rice for £105 million was a pivotal moment in Arsenal's modern history, stating, "I raised my eyebrows when the deal was first presented to me." However, he clarified that he wanted to know the player's character as much as he was interested in his technical abilities. The signing of Viktor Gyökeres also provided the team with a new boost, as Kroenke confirmed that the player's character and winning mentality were among the key reasons for signing him.
Despite winning the Premier League, Arsenal's ambitions do not stop there, as the team prepares to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest, with the entire Kroenke family in attendance. Josh smiles, saying, "Being the champions of England feels great... but becoming the champions of Europe could be even better."
Regional Significance
For football fans in the Arab world, Arsenal's success serves as a model for how to rebuild teams and achieve titles after periods of failure. Additionally, the smart signings of young players reflect the trends of Arab clubs towards investing in local and global talents.
In conclusion, Kroenke emphasizes that the league title is not the end of the journey but its true beginning, stating, "Now everyone will try to chase us." He adds, "If you do not continue to evolve and improve, you are truly regressing." He then concludes with a clear message to Arsenal fans: "Having Mikel Arteta with us is the top priority. He is an Arsenal man in every sense of the word... and what has been achieved so far is just the beginning."