Usmanov puts pressure on Kroenke to spend big this summer

Arsenal’s majority shareholder Stan Kroenke made a big speech about Wenger’s ability to lead the Gunners to big titles. “Our ambition is to win the Premier League and other major trophies in Europe.” Kroenke said. “It’s what the fans, players, staff, manager and board expect and we won’t rest until that is achieved. Arsene is the best person to help us make that happen.”

It would seem that Alisher Usmanov, who recently made a massive offer to take control of the club, agrees that Le Prof is the right man to lead the team, but he doesn’t seem to be sure that Kroenke will give the Frenchman adequate funds to rebuild a title-winning side.

The Russian oligarch said: “I am pleased that Arsene Wenger will continue to manage Arsenal for the next two years as he is one of the very best coaches in Europe.

“What is now of paramount importance is that he receives the full support of the Board and majority shareholder.

“He has a great opportunity to deliver the success that the fans deserve and the legacy that his long contribution merits.

“However without the right support there remains a real risk that his legacy will be tarnished.

“If the support is not forthcoming, we stand ready to step in and do everything we can to deliver success on and off the field.”

The Russian has offered before to inject large sums to bump up the war chest, but was turned down by Kroenke and the Board as a ploy to gain more shares, so it is doubtful the American will agree this time around either. But the offer puts pressure on Arsenal to invest heavily this summer, and could increase Usmanov’s support from the fan base if Kroenke doesn’t deliver.

Who do you think is more likely to invest in the team to take us “to the next level”

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17 Comments

  1. WOW. Finally someone from the top acknowledges the fans. At least someone has a bit of respect for us. I’m still waiting for an apology from stan/board about how our season was a disaster. I’m still waiting for an explanation on how our season coming is going to be any better than the last… OH WAIT, NOTHING WILL CHANGE! Imo, our club is dead atm. There’s not one bit of excitement. We need ozil and Sanchez signed up now, and a top player announced. This will be the 3rd season in a row I haven’t bought any arsenal shirts or gear, and i won’t until I see a serious positive change.

    1. your gonna have a long wait for that apology. Wenger might even win a UCL or PL before then!

      what am i saying..

  2. From two season ago we keep hearing Arsenal has £200M to spend, that its only Rinaldo & Messi we can’t afford yet Wenger delays till last minute of the transfer window to bring in players that have not taken part in our Pre-season matches to prepare them, only to end up crying to the fans at the end of the season that we were not mentally prepared!

    If I can recall very well, there was a season Wenger was handed close to £100M but he only got some funny player from Asia and returned the left over to Kroenke for additional profit at the end of the season.

    Wenger was, is and would always be our problem!

    1. It’s the same like the Suarez bid. He’s “given” the money. I don’t think it’s really him who is the problem. I believe he has a public budget, that’s probably around 100 million, and a realistic budget that only him and satan k know, which is well below that figure.

  3. I don’t know how it will be any different next time he tries to take over when the support is not forthcoming. If he feels that way well then why didn’t do it already, this is just trying to get opinion further on his side by saying the right things. I read what cities chairman was saying this morning and it left me sick we don’t have any with the same drive. It was exactly what you want to hear but you could tell he meant every word of it. You’d think he was planning to take over the world, and in a way he was. I believe with that type of boardroom over here we could have been successful with Arsene, this board aided in Arsene’s downfall. Anyone that doesn’t believe so just go read the city chairman’s words.

  4. That’s like Pinky and the Brain Jokes!
    Wenger is our problem
    If the board are not supporting your ambition as a top manager you should quit to avoid them tarnishing your image.

    But good old Wenger is an ass-kisser!

  5. We need to analyze the season like all the players their performance injury track record and how far they’ve improved personally and their contribution to the team. Offload those who underperform regularly year after year. Players like Ramsey, Coquelin, Jenkinson, Debuchy, Walcott are not up to the mark of a champions. They are not going to perform regular week in week out so offload them ASAP. Find the proper replacement and buy when the window opens. Have a preseason in full swing and prepare well for the forthcoming season. Exactly what People is doing at City is what we want. For the last 7 years Wenger has proved he’s not in that class and offer chance after chance, year after year to all these average players and spoil the team

  6. more pressure required..

    the fat man should stretch into his wrestling leotard and beat Stan into submission.

    Perhaps we could have that at the Emirates instead of the Emirates Cup?

  7. I’m expecting new things next season, anxiously waiting for them, I mean new excuses from the master of excuses.. coz I know new season comes with new vocabularies; cohesion and so many similar to that.. 2 years is a lot to stick to the same words

  8. Is it me or are we hearing the same old BS year after year.. whether or not kroenke has come out and said things like wiv trophies at home and in Europe or is that just gazidis giving his 10pence worth to con the fans like always..

    Wenger has come out already with.. “we are only interested in top top quality and who are available” Wenger every player has a price.. do u think pogba was ‘available’ when utd paid 93mil for him? Course he wasn’t but money was paid and they got the deal done without champions league football might I add!!

    So we need 2 big signings in the next 10-14 days.. it has to be these areas

    Sell Gabriel Gibbs dubucey jekinson and either loan out or sell chambers
    Why are we not looking at van dijk 50 odd mil just go pay it wenger!! Young, premier league experienced future captain and leader?

    Striker has to be either auybayeug or Lacazette.. both of which either have a release cause or a club valuation.. pay the money Wenger!!

    We have to act fast or we won’t get any of our 1st choices.. and we all know Wenger drives a hard deal with his penny pinching ways..

    2 big signings.. pay ozil and Sanchez whatever to stay

    Get our signings in early then worry about selling deadwood and underachivers later on in the transfer window.. when Wenger believes is the busy time to buy!!

    1. Mate, don’t get your hopes up. None will happen, bar the offloading the expensive deadwood.
      Neither Sanchez or Ozil will stay, they know what’s up at Arsenal. They won’t win top trophies with us, that’s why the huge wage demands. As Cartman said to his mum, when she refused to buy him an ipad:”You could have at least taken me to dinner first. Because I like to be wined and dined before I get FU****KED!”.

  9. I really don’t know why fans keep hitting on Walcott and Ramsey….these players didn’t play badly and imho Walcott did very very good…he was second only to Kane as the top scoring English man. You guys are not fair at all

  10. So that’s the new excuse right? Support from the board…?. I dare say give simeone this same arsenal squad and he will win the league. There’s really no excuse for Wenger’s losses if truly he’s one of the best in Europe. Just saying..

  11. Good work Usmanov!

    I don’t think he would really keep Wenger for long if he was the owner, but he knows that to attack Wenger & Kroenke at once would be too aggressive, and rock-the-boat too with the board of directors.

    So he’s picking his battles… (1) Weaken the position of Kroenke (2) Gain favour with the majority of the fans…

    Then hopefully one day (3) Make Kroenke an offer he can’t refuse, and (4) Take-over Arsenal (5) Invest, shake-up everything, and make us a giant of European football

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