Arsenal: Stan Kroenke Comments Encouraging And Yet Flawed

Arsenal’s majority shareholder Stan Kroenke has stated that sports are only fun if you win, and yet with both of his major sporting investments, neither are particularly successful.

Arsenal are a club that expect to win. It is a culture that Arsene Wenger instilled in the organization throughout the first few years of his tenure in North London and is the benchmark that every season is judged by: how many trophies are won.

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However, in recent times this benchmark has not been matched. Arsenal went nine depressing years without winning a trophy and haven’t won a Premier League title since the great Invincible side of 03/04. It is a drought that is now slighting the reputation of Arsene Wenger.

Now, though, owner Stan Kroenke has had his say on the whole situation, highlighting the importance of winning in sport.

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Stan Kroenke said:

"“I’ve always loved sports and you have to make it make sense financially. But you learn over the years that it’s no fun if you don’t win. Arsenal, two years ago, was the most popular soccer team in China. We’ve been in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, all touring and playing the last few years. The television revenue in that particular sector for the English Premier League is the fastest growing area we have.”"

These are however, rather confusing comments. While it is encouraging to hear him speak of the importance to win, he then proceeds to talk about how marketable Arsenal is in Asia. How can you prioritize winning and then, when it comes to praising your club, focus on the money that it is bringing in from half way around the world? It simply doesn’t make sense.

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While Stan Kroenke does seem willing to invest in Arsenal, he also seems very keen to make a return on that investment. Arsenal certainly are not a poor club, far from it, but with a majority shareholder who is more concerned with the size of his wallet than the fullness of the trophy cabinet, then it is certainly a concern.