Arsenal: The Kroenke’s destroyed their credibility, they must sell

The footballing world has been in revolt since the proposed Super League was announced. Despite the fact that it was yelled down in a matter of days, it is not dead as an ambition that the wealthiest oligarchs of football have for this world. Whether it be the Henry’s of Liverpool, the Kroenke’s of Arsenal, Roman Abramovich of Chelsea, the Glazers of United or Sheikh Mansour, their hand has been played and just because they’re in retreat does not yet mean they’ve surrendered.

Folks like this are not used to ever surrendering in any real sense. They always get what they want invariably, and so this is all the more reason that we as fans, supporters, writers and the like, must continue to push, must continue to agitate towards removing these infectious mounds from these historical community outfits and institutions.

Yet while this is simple to say, what is more difficult is to say who should be steward of the club moving forward.

The hottest news is of course, that Daniel Ek, Swedish billionaire and CEO of Spotify, has put together a consortium of legendary players alongside himself to purchase the club from KSE for what has been described as a very lucrative offer. While Josh Kroenke has said that he and his father will not sell the club, it seems highly unlikely that the team will remain with them for as long as they’d like it to; he and his father have stained the club during their time as owners of the organization.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Arsenal, a club of and for the people, should be of and for the people

The pressure is on and it’s real and even more intense than it’s been in the past. The Glazers are feeling it too with #GlazersOut, and while some owners are more insulated than others, Arsenal is a loud, passionate and aggravated fan base. While the Glazers continue to struggle with United, they’re at least sporting a pretty good side this season. They’ve at least won bigger trophies during their time.

The same can’t be said regarding the Kroenke’s, and while I believe that Daniel Ek and this consortium would likely understand football and its culture better than the current American owners so, this still would leave something to be desired. Even with all the money in the world it simply wouldn’t feel right for another billionaire to stroll up to “save” Arsenal; if anyone should be saving the club, it should be the supporters, if you need proof of this, simply look at Newcastle United.

Newcastle United: A formula that might just work at Arsenal too

As The Tribune wrote not too long ago, the supporters trust of Newcastle United, on the heels of the failed take over by the Saudi Arabian PiF, are looking into purchasing the team publicly. That is, they mean to raise enough money through their trust in order to purchase the club from Mike Ashley, who they dislike and whom wishes to be done with the historic, yet floundering outfit.

While other names are out there for this club as well, what good would that do? Sure, the new manager might be an enthusiastic spender and competitor, but no one likes to lose, and patience is difficult to come by with wealth.

No one is as invested in the course of the team year in and out as the supporters. No one cares as much, no one lives and breathes the game as much and no one obsesses over it quite like the supporters. This is not to say that the players, coaches et al are not fully invested and entirely more knowledgeable than the layman, yet it is to say that because supporters gain nothing from team success other than sheer, almost inexpiable joy, that they might be the truest guardians of any football or sporting club.

Indeed, one could argue that all passions should be controlled by or managed by an interest without direct financial benefit, yet for the purposes of this discussion, we can isolate this notion to the footballing world. When the fans own the team through the trust, when money is raised from across the world to accommodate this purchase and backing etc, they are purchasing a machine that, when functioning properly, makes lots of money.

When billionaires own the club, supporters have to worry about how much money is being skimmed off the club and how much is being invested. Yet after this takeover by the people is committed to, those employees and players, managers and administrators can be paid their proper share. What remains can go to the team, can go to the community, the stadium, parks and gardens, amenities and public works, players, facilities and into the bank.

Perhaps then the clubs of the world will not collectively weep when their money machine becomes less successful for even a year. While these massive clubs have reported the largest losses this last year, any reasonable financial institution not fattening itself on its own gains would be able to weather the storm with reserves and resources to spare.

When the profit is the motive,however, there is no money except the working margins that are set up. And while this leaves no room for life events and circumstances, it does leave room to complain about downsizing and cost cutting measures, as well as the revenue sharing system that underpins world soccer. It is embarrassing yet typical, and must be stopped from occurring once again.

#KroenkeOut is necessary, even if it means #EkIn; it would be better were Arsenal to be of the Gunners, by the Gooners, and for the good of the sport, yet this is all remarkably complicated. Were Newcastle to pull it off, I can see it happening for other clubs believe, even if it’s not immediate.  Util then, it remains something worth building towards for the good of the club and football as a whole.

Life is constantly changing, and this pertains even to oligarchs and sports clubs. Nothing lasts forever, and things that seemed impossible yesterday become reasonable today by the unseen stroke of progress itself. KSE will not retain control of Arsenal forever and the people themselves might even be able to assume control of the great leviathan itself as well in the process. It is always worth noting, as George Bernard Shaw famously stated, that: “Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.”