Arsenal director Josh Kroenke admits fans' criticism hurts
Arsenal supporters' organisations, fanzines and
blogs published a statement hitting out at Stan Kroenke's "passive
ownership" on Monday in response to their team's latest frustrating
campaign.
The Gunners are preparing for a third
successive season out of the Champions League after finishing fifth in
the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to London rivals
Chelsea.
Kroenke senior's company took outright ownership
of the club during August 2018 and Josh Kroenke, son of the Arsenal
owner, addressed the supporters' complaints during the current
pre-season tour of the United States.
"Anyone that knows me knows how passionate I
am about Arsenal Football Club," Josh Kroenke said in an interview
published by several British newspapers on Tuesday.
"Is it hard to take? Absolutely. But I'm not in this business to make friends, I'm in it to win.
"If anyone is ever going to question anything
about our ownership - which I view as a custodianship, the supporters
trust us to be a custodian of the values - that's what we're trying to
do. We're trying to win whilst also respecting the values and traditions
of the club.
"I've sat down with supporters'
groups. I've not been afraid to sit down to have tough conversations
with people because I'm transparent, we're transparent, we don't have
anything to hide.
"We all want the same thing and we're all
trying aggressively to make it happen. It's just sometimes our timeline
might not be as aggressive as others would like to see."
'Respectfully disagree'
Arsenal manager Unai Emery took his team to
the US without captain Laurent Koscielny, who refused to travel after
having his request to leave the club rejected.
Despite that distraction and Arsenal's
uncertain future on the field, Josh Kroenke is convinced they will
eventually restore the Gunners to the club's former glories.
"It's no secret that we have a Champions
League wage bill on a Europa League budget right now. That's a fact. And
one that we're figuring out how to face internally at the moment,"
Kroenke said.
"That doesn't mean that my father or I have
ever said anything about any restrictions on spending. We know where we
need to be and we know the areas we need to address on the pitch.
"It's not who you buy, it's how you buy. There's multiple statements to say how to skin that cat.
"While we're not going to be in the market for
some of the top players in the world at the moment whilst they are the
top players, we're actively scouting the globe to find the next big
thing to become great at Arsenal Football Club."
The Arsenal director also released an open letter
to "Gooners worldwide", on "behalf of myself, my father, my family and
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment".
Kroenke said they "respectfully disagree about our club being at a crossroads" and the need for change.
Arsenal director Josh Kroenke admits fans' criticism hurts
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