In a move that has stunned the American Football world, the Los Angeles Rams, owned by one Enos Stanley Kroenke, have acquired the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft from the Tennessee Titans.
The Rams have given up two first round picks, two second round picks and two third round picks over the net two drafts, all in order to move up to the front of the queue to choose from the best college players that are about to join the NFL.
What does this mean for Arsenal? Well, for one, a deal for the first overall pick hasn’t been made since 2004.
Secondly, the Rams have been notoriously conservative over the last few years in terms of signing new players and trading draft picks in current drafts for better picks in the future. (Sound familiar?)
Today’s events are a huge departure from that strategy. This is the equivalent of spending £46 million on Anthony Martial, a young player with the potential to be a star.
Yes, Manchester United overpaid for him, but they didn’t care.
The Rams have overpaid today, but they want a chance to make an impact in Los Angeles, and this is the perfect way of doing so, so they don’t care about the price either.
The last time any team owned by Kroenke made a statement this big in a transfer market, was Arsenal buying Mesut Özil in 2013, when Arsenal fans were desperate for the club to spend money in order to keep up with its rivals.
Three years later, and Arsenal find themselves in a similar situation.
Is there a chance a changed Kroenke is about to encourage the Gunners’ hierarchy to spend big in the upcoming transfer market after the frustration of missing out on a title which looks likely to be won by Leicester City?
On Thursday, Arsenal’s majority owner showed that he’s willing to see a team he owns break the bank in order to be competitive.
Stan Kroenke doesn’t say much, but today, his NFL team may have spoken volumes.