Arsenal’s Kroenke pledges squad investment as Champions League final approaches
The Story
Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke, in a media appearance ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, said the club will strengthen its squad regardless of the result and that securing manager Mikel Arteta with a new contract is a priority. The comments come after Arsenal won their first Premier League title in 22 years, triggering a period of reflection on the club’s transformation since fan protests and the 4-1 loss to Chelsea in the 2019 Europa League final.
Key Facts
- Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
- Arsenal won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.
- Josh Kroenke and his father, Stan, are co-chairs and owners of Arsenal through Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE).
- Kroenke stated the club will look to strengthen the squad in the summer, saying “we’re going to look to strengthen because we know teams around us are going to get better.”
- He described keeping Mikel Arteta at the club as an “utmost priority” and said Arteta’s contract is set to be discussed once the season ends.
- Fan protests using the slogan “We Care, Do You?” occurred following KSE’s full takeover in 2018.
- The 2019 Europa League final loss to Chelsea in Baku was described by Kroenke as a turning point that led to a decision to “take a step back to go forward.”
- After that defeat, Kroenke asked Per Mertesacker about the best young defender in Europe, leading to the signing of William Saliba from Saint-Étienne for £27m in July 2019.
- Kroenke said he was “on his hands and knees” in his living room watching the VAR check that overturned West Ham’s late equaliser, a key moment in the title race.
- Kroenke recounted that his new puppy urinated on the floor when he jumped up during a breakaway goal by young player Max Dowman against Everton.
- Kroenke recalled a conversation with former chairman Sir Chips Keswick, who told him “Bloody hell, don’t get relegated” after Kroenke proposed a step-back strategy.
Conflicting Reports
- The scoreline of the 2019 Europa League final is disputed: The Guardian and Sky Sports report a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea, while BBC News reports a 4-0 defeat to Chelsea. CBS Sports does not specify the score.
Still Unclear
- The amount Arsenal spent last summer (£250m) and total transfer fees since Arteta’s appointment (almost £1bn) are claims made only by The Guardian.
- Plans to renovate the Emirates Stadium are reported only by The Guardian.
- The idea that the Covid-19 pandemic gave Arteta “space” to work without fan pressure is reported only by BBC News.
- Claims that Arsenal have the third-highest net spend since Arteta’s appointment and the fourth largest wage bill are reported only by CBS Sports.
- The arrival of sporting director Andrea Berta last year is reported only by CBS Sports.
- Full details of Arteta’s contract length beyond “end of next season” (Guardian) / “only a year left” (CBS) are not clarified across all sources.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the sources.
Key Figures
- Josh Kroenke: Arsenal co-chair
- Stan Kroenke: Arsenal co-chair and founder of KSE
- Mikel Arteta: Arsenal manager
- Unai Emery: Former Arsenal manager
- Martin Ødegaard: Arsenal captain
- Per Mertesacker: Former Arsenal academy manager
- William Saliba: Arsenal defender
- Sir Chips Keswick: Former Arsenal chairman (deceased)
- Richard Garlick: Arsenal chief executive
- Alisher Usmanov: Former Arsenal shareholder
- Ivan Gazidis: Former Arsenal chief executive
- Max Dowman: Arsenal youth player
- Andrea Berta: Arsenal sporting director
Sources: The Guardian, BBC News, Sky Sports, CBS Sports
