Arsenal fans' group call on Stan Kroenke to reinvigorate flagging Gunners
A statement was published by a total of 16 signatories on Monday stating their desire for change within the team itself, alongside the club’s culture as a whole
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Your support makes all the difference.A group of influential Arsenal supporters’ organisations, fanzines and blogs have joined forces to call for “better leadership” of the club and hit out at Stan Kroenke’s “passive ownership”.
A statement was published by a total of 16 signatories on Monday stating their desire for change within the team itself, alongside the club’s culture as a whole.
“As Arsenal fans we have watched with frustration as the team’s football performances have declined over the past decade,” the statement says.
“When Stan Kroenke began buying Arsenal shares the club had just competed in a first Champions League final.
“Twelve years on, Arsenal are about to play in the Europa League for the third year running.”
The frustration comes after years of perceived misspending and lack of any meaningful transfer activity, with the club unable to reach the heights enjoyed during the Premier League’s nascent years.
The group’s grievances rest with Kroenke and his ownership more directly, saying ’’off the pitch, fans have never felt more marginalised, less listened to or valued.”
“This was sadly illustrated when Stan Kroenke forcibly bought out the last remaining supporter-shareholders without even a word of appreciation of their custodianship role in the club,” the statement adds.
Kroenke began purchasing shares in Arsenal in 2007 and through his company, Kroenke Sports Enterprises, has continued to increase his stake until he became majority shareholder in 2009, and eventually sole owner in August 2018.
The statement pleads with Kroenke to take “meaningful action” and “reinvigorate” the club, hoping to affect change in the 71 year old’s intransigence.
“Arsenal is at a crossroads. Things need to change,” the supporters say.
The groups point to Kroenke’s takeover document where he stated that he wanted the club to “consistently win the Premier League and the Champions League,” stating that no progress has been made.
They argue that since his tenure, the Emirates Stadium has been a “soulless place” with “thousands of empty seats blighting almost every game”.
The supporters group end their statement calling for the end of any proposals for a new European Super League, saying it is driven by the “by the greed of a few so-called elite clubs” and threatens “the very fabric of football in England and across Europe”.
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