The biggest Arsenal news of the summer. by Dan Smith
Of all recent developments, news coming out today should worry every gooner. Bigger then any transfer, any contract negotiations or even a footballing result, the news that Stan Kroenke wants to buy Arsenal outright is a dark moment in our history.
The cruel irony is his plans to have 100 percent control coincided with a transfer window where he again has shown zero ambition. Yet again we are failing to tie our best players down to contracts, we are spending the next few days recouping money and, worst of all, the first campaign where he can’t hide behind the shield that was Arsene Wenger.
Usmanov’s willingness to sell his shares is an acceptance that the Gunners are never going to be run in his vision. The two billionaires for years have had different view points in how we should be run. Usmanov’s promises may have been a PR stunt. Of course fans are going to back you if they hear promises of millions being spent. It’s easy talking how you would invest hypothetical money, but different when it’s your own cash.
The Russian, to many, offered the last hope. The one man rich enough to buy out the American, especially if he came under pressure. Usmanov throwing in the towel tells us we will now be the Kroenke family for generations, another asset to add to the portfolio. That’s the worrying thing.
History tells us you are deluded to think there will be a change in policy just because we have a sole owner. He has brought various sport franchises in the U.S. Ask any Americans, winning trophies is not something he deems a priority. If he doesn’t care about being a winner in his own country, why would he be any different concerning a nation he hardly comes too.
When we lost Wenger, we lost our soul. A man with influence who loved us. Supporters cheer change for change. Before any banner went up forcing out a man who cared we should’ve worried about an individual who has our fate in his hands. I’m not going to write we can win the title just to get positive comments. The facts show us winning a Premiership is unlikely the more control this man has.
Don’t get me wrong, there are fan bases like Leeds who wish they had been run like a business. I’m grateful that if revenue streams dried up, financially we have been looked after. Some observers are against the Chelsea/Man City model but you have to understand how rich the industry has become. For what goes into our bank account from TV, merchandise, sponsors, ticket sales, our outgoings should be bigger. They havn’t been since he arrived in North London. Living across the pond, he doesn’t have to worry about a backlash. Protests could transpire at the Emirates, he wouldn’t know about it.
He’s managed to stay mute at shareholder meetings, he’s given one interview to the British press. So no matter who the boss, who the marquee buy is, as long as we are owned by this man, we will never be champions again.
Dan Smith