The evolution of 'sleeping giant' Arsenal
- Published
Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke says behind-closed-doors football during the Covid-19 pandemic allowed manager Mikel Arteta "space" to help revive the "sleeping giant".
The Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) group took full control of Arsenal in 2018 but it has not always been easy, with fan protests targeted at how the club was being run taking place during their tenure.
The Kroenkes hired Arteta in 2019, giving the former Arsenal player his first senior managerial role, after a period of uncertainty at the club.
It took time for that vision to take hold with two eighth-placed finishes, despite a 2020 FA Cup win, leading to some questioning whether Arteta was the right man for the job.
But the Spaniard has transformed the club after six-and-a-half years in charge and has led the Gunners to their first Premier League title in 22 years.
"I knew we were a sleeping giant that we needed to awaken in some way," Kroenke said. "We haven't had a team or a squad like this in the social media age.
"Social media evolved, the Twittersphere, the instantaneous information, the 'Banter Era' and everything else around it - I'm aware of all of this. I turned 46 [years old] last week. I've grown up around this and I've seen it all from my own perspective.
"I think that is what I'm so proud to see. There was almost a time when you were a closeted Arsenal fan."
But this success does not mean the end of the journey for Kroenke and his vision for the club, with the Gunners playing Paris St-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday.
"I can think back and say that our stated goal was winning the Premier League because if you can put yourself in contention for the Premier League, you are in contention for everything else," Kroenke added.
"Should we get a great result on Saturday, it isn't going to change or affect who we are. When you win something, the sun is still going to come up the next day.
"You have to get back to work. There are many teams trying to gain on you, including some historically great ones around the Premier League.
"So we are going to look to strengthen because we know that teams around us are going to get better. If you aren't trying to continually evolve and improve, you are standing still."
