News that majority shareholder Stan Kroenke rejected a colossal bid for Arsenal from Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov will be met with derision by many fans. Kroenke has presided over a troubling period for the club, which has not won the league since he took over in 2008, and many supporters feel it is time for a change. Usmanov, who owns 30% of the club, has been among the most vocal critics of Silent Stan and his bid is well-timed.
Arsenal have endured their worst season in Arsene Wenger’s tenure. They have finished below Tottenham for the first time in more than two decades, and the gap is significant. It is hard to see many Arsenal players getting in the Spurs team, which is not something we ever expected to see. Gunners legend Ian Wright summed up the mood of many with his rant in the aftermath of the bid: “It is not looking good for Arsenal at the moment. They may be out of the Champions League – something they are not used to – and they have to beat one of the best Chelsea sides I have seen for a long time in the FA Cup final to try and get something from the season. Where are they going to sign players from? Who is going to want to come to Arsenal instead of anywhere else in London? At the moment, they are not an attractive proposition.
“We are already missing out on the managers we are supposedly interested in and we are going to start missing out on the kind of players that are going to be available and want to play in the Premier League. Top players may want to leave. Too much is up in the air. Something has got to happen for Arsenal to go to that next level. This bid will galvanise the fans.”
He has it right: Arsenal are rank outsiders to win the cup final against Chelsea. Antonio Conte’s men are 10/11, while Arsenal are all the way out at 14/5, a Ladbrokes review of the odds reveals. Even if they manage to pull off an improbable victory, they have finished well off the pace in the league and it is not good enough for a club of Arsenal’s stature to be finishing so far behind Chelsea and Tottenham, not when you consider the amount of money they bring in through the exorbitant ticket prices and merchandising.
Back in 2004 Arsenal fans should have been looking forward to a period of dominance in domestic matters, after The Invincibles walked the title. But then Roman Abramovich landed in west London and his spending power blew Arsenal out of the water. Since then, Chelsea have won the league five times. Arsenal have not won it once. Usmanov could be what Arsenal need to keep pace with Abramovich at Chelsea and Sheikh Mansour at Man City.
As Wright rightly points out, Kroenke owns franchises in the US and they are all mediocre, with poor attendances and a distinct lack of achievement. Kroenke has said he did not buy Arsenal to win trophies, and that is about the worst thing you can say to any set of football fans. Many will be hoping Usmanov returns with a higher bid, because the club is going backwards and needs a change.