Arsenal: Stan Kroenke’s Ultimatum Grounds For Disaster

Arsenal dictator Stan Kroenke has reportedly given Arsene Wenger a deadline to sign a new contract. In no world/parallel universe is this a good idea.

No matter who you talk to, there is a 98% chance that they don’t like Stan Kroenke. The American business tycoon and avid toupee enthusiast has established himself as a money-first kind of guy. From a capitalist’s point of view in a capitalistic environment, he’s a genius and a great business model. From a sport’s standpoint, he is everything that could ever be wrong with a franchise.

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You see, Kroenke likes his money, and he knows damn well that Arsenal is a cash cow, so long as he doesn’t use that precious cash in too much abundance to better the team. Money first, after all.

As such, it should come as no surprise that, if reports are to be believed, Kroenke has made another horrible decision for Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, and all players involved.

According to sources (including the Times), Stan ‘The Man’ Kroenke has put a deadline on Arsene Wenger’s potential (and probably ill-advised) contract extension. He wants to know by October if Wenger plans on staying or not.

This sounds like a horrible idea from a supporter’s perspective. We will not know by October which way this team is going. Knowing Arsenal, they will be top of the table, seeing as how it’s early in the season, and Wenger will bank on winning, sign an extension and tank.

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Pardon my nightmarish outburst.

I don’t see why an ultimatum like this is a good idea. It benefits no one. I believe that Arsene Wenger will retire at the end of next year. But, on the off chance that Wenger rallies together his long-overdue vision and accomplishes a truly remarkable season, defeating Pep, Jose, and whoever else tries to get in the way, I would be open to the idea of Wenger staying (please forgive me).

That being said, those chances are incredibly slim. Even if Wenger squeaks out a title, I wouldn’t want him to stay. It would have to be something magnificent.

Forcing this decision on Wenger isn’t fair to him either. Arsenal can scour the managerial market without Wenger’s post-season decision being decided. It wouldn’t be the end of the world. All this ultimatum does is puts Wenger in a pressure cooker and puts fans in a sauna.

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The only benefit I can see is if Arsenal is already scraping mid table and Wenger announces he won’t be extending. But that’s a bit of a morbid situation.