Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: How much the Kroenke ownership has invested in 10 years

By Ross Kennerley

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke looks on before the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke looks on before the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Some things don’t work together well; water and oil; Tottenham and trophies; Oasis and fast songs; Joachim Löw and the art of being discreet; Arsenal and, of course, KSE. A partnership that suits one and not the other, we’re now at breaking point.

There has been plenty of reactionary punditry to the recent protests, labelling them as mere response to on-field failure – a particular criticism of Arsenal fans.

All of which goes without saying is lazy and inaccurate.

Does languishing in mid-table and facing the prospect of no European football next season have its own cause for irritation and anger? Without doubt. But what is going on between the supporters and the KSE ownership dates back years. The disgraceful acts of the Super League breakaway were the tip of the iceberg.

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How much the Kroenke ownership has invested into Arsenal in the last 10 years

It’s no great secret that Stan Kroenke doesn’t care one jot for the supporters. The term ‘cash cow’ is invariably flung about and it is not wide of the mark. Arsenal is a means to make steady income without the need for regular intervention. Its ‘customers’ will continue to purchase the never-ending stream of merchandise and pay top dollar for a seat way up in the top tiers of the Emirates Stadium. Money.

How much money has been reinvested as a result? Well, the brilliant Swiss Ramble provides all the numbers when it comes to Premier League finance, dispelling a common misconception about recent dealings of KSE.

Kroenke ‘financed the Thomas Partey deal’ is a gross misunderstanding; indeed, if it hasn’t been deliberately framed as such. Between 2010-2020, KSE have invested £15m of their own money into the club. This isn’t just finances either, it’s all operations/funding for all facets.

In the case of Partey, clever accounting shifted the Emirates debt around to alter the payment structure. It’s not capitol injection.

Arsenal have a self-sustaining model that supporters should be proud of. No dodgy Financial Fair Play dealings (although Arsenal were done over by UEFA on this) and working within their means.

£15m of funding from the ownership, though? In ten years? West Brom have had £22m injected in that period and they spent most of it in the second tier.

Aside from pointless comparisons, the overriding absence of care, the soulless abuse of an institution that means the world to millions and the arrogance to make decisions against the wishes of the cannon fodder for personal gain is what is behind this movement.

Daniel Ek is no saving grace who will come in and pump millions into Arsenal. His wealth isn’t stable whereas the Kroenke family will be rich forever. It’s about having the club run with the interests of the fans at heart.

Yes, money would be welcome, heck knows the club need it, but people mustn’t have the wool pulled over their eyes by Nicolas Pepe and Partey deals. It’s not investment or care and is framed as such for simple PR.

Next. Villarreal preview. dark

KSE do not care, nobody should ever be led to believe they do.

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