Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke has revealed that behind-closed-doors football during the Covid-19 pandemic gave manager Mikel Arteta crucial breathing space to rebuild the club — a factor he believes played a quiet but significant role in the Gunners’ transformation into Premier League champions.
Kroenke’s Verdict on Covid’s Hidden Benefit
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview, Kroenke reflected on Arteta’s early years in charge and acknowledged that the absence of fans during the pandemic may have helped the Spaniard through the most difficult phase of his development as a manager.
“I don’t know if I would ever acknowledge it, or Mikel or anybody — there was something about Mikel having a little bit of what I would say space during Covid when there weren’t fans around,” Kroenke said.
“There were some growing pains that went on during matches, different moments, and obviously we won the FA Cup, but to not have that extra pressure of fans being on top of you at different points in time when we were going through different growth phases was probably something I don’t think any of us would acknowledge in the moment. But looking back I think we can say maybe that was a little bit of a benefit.”
Arteta was appointed in December 2019 as a first-time senior manager. He won the FA Cup in 2020 but finished eighth in consecutive Premier League seasons, leading to questions about whether he was the right man for the job. Six and a half years later, he has delivered Arsenal’s first league title in 22 years.
Why Kroenke Backed Arteta From Day One
Kroenke says the decision to hand Arteta his first senior managerial role was made straightforward by the Spaniard’s character and conviction.
“Anybody that gets a chance to be around Mikel, you can buy into what he’s selling pretty easily,” Kroenke said.
He was quick to credit Arteta and his staff rather than the ownership for the club’s success, saying the manager and players earned the right to be given patience through the sheer volume of work they were putting in behind the scenes.
Too Much Change in Too Short a Time
Kroenke was candid about the turbulence that followed KSE taking full control of Arsenal in 2018. The club was simultaneously dealing with the end of the Arsene Wenger era after 22 years, the departure of chief executive Ivan Gazidis, and a shift in ownership structure — all at the same time.
“Transitioning to a new era after 22 years was going to be difficult,” Kroenke said. “One: it was taking the club private that summer. Two: you had a legendary manager moving along, us trying to reinvent ourselves. Third: an underestimated thing for me on the back end was Ivan Gazidis’ departure. For a club of our stature, change is going to be healthy but that was way too much change in way too short of a period of time.”
The ownership faced a We Care, Do You? campaign from supporters who questioned their commitment to the club during that period.
The Baku Moment That Changed Everything
A turning point came when Kroenke watched Arsenal lose 4-1 to Chelsea in the 2019 Europa League final in Baku — a defeat he describes as the worst 45 minutes of the season and the moment that forced a strategic rethink.
“Seeing that happen was the first time where I came back from that trip and I told my dad that I think we need to really embrace where we are,” Kroenke said. “Now that we have 100% of the club, we might need to take a step back to go forward at some point.”
It was in the aftermath of that defeat that the signing of William Saliba was first discussed. Academy manager Per Mertesacker pointed to the then 18-year-old Saint-Etienne defender as the best young centre-back in Europe when Kroenke asked how Arsenal could find their own Virgil van Dijk. Saliba joined for £27 million in July 2019 and has since become the cornerstone of Arsenal’s title-winning defence.
On His Hands and Knees for the VAR Decision
Kroenke painted a vivid picture of what it was like to watch Arsenal’s title run from the United States — including the season-defining VAR decision that ruled out West Ham’s late goal with three games remaining.
“I was on my hands and knees in my living room. It was a moment where I think every Arsenal supporter worldwide held their breath,” he said.
He also joked about the pain of 4am wake-up calls for early Premier League kickoffs, admitting the 12.30pm Saturday slot is far from welcome when you are watching from across the Atlantic.
Awakening the Sleeping Giant
With the Premier League title secured and Arsenal preparing to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, Kroenke reflected on how far the club has come — and how much further he wants it to go.
“I knew we were a sleeping giant that we needed to awaken in some way,” he said. “We haven’t had a team, a squad like this in the social media age.”
But Kroenke was clear that the work is far from done. Arsenal will look to strengthen this summer as they aim to defend their title and compete for European glory, with the co-chair warning that standing still is not an option.
“We’re going to look to strengthen because we know that teams around us are going to get better. If you’re not trying to continually evolve and improve, you’re standing still.”
FAQs
What did Josh Kroenke say about the Covid pandemic and Arsenal? Kroenke said the absence of fans during the Covid pandemic gave Mikel Arteta breathing space to develop as a manager without the extra pressure of supporters during Arsenal’s difficult early transition period.
When did Arsenal win the Premier League? Arsenal won their first Premier League title in 22 years under Mikel Arteta, ending a drought that stretched back to the 2003-04 Invincibles season.
How did William Saliba join Arsenal? William Saliba joined Arsenal in July 2019 for £27 million from Saint-Etienne after being recommended to Josh Kroenke by then academy manager Per Mertesacker as the best young defender in Europe.
Who are Arsenal playing in the Champions League final? Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, which takes place on Saturday.
What are Arsenal’s plans for the summer transfer window? Josh Kroenke confirmed Arsenal will look to strengthen their squad this summer to defend the Premier League title, saying the club must keep evolving to stay at the top.
