Josh Kroenke has insisted that Arsenal will strengthen this summer even if they win the Champions League, and that they’re prioritising extending Mikel Arteta’s contract.
Arsenal have had a successful season so far, winning the Premier League and making it to the Champions League final. Win that final, and it becomes one of the best seasons in the club’s history.
The question put to Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke this week was whether that might affect the club’s transfer strategy.
If the team achieve their goals, could the club owners decide they don’t need to invest as much this summer?
“We’ve achieved one goal, with another one on the plate coming on Saturday,” Kroenke began. “[But] should we get a great result it’s not going to change or affect who we are.
“When you win something, the sun’s still going to come up the next day. You’ve got to get back to work and there are many teams trying to gain on you, including some historically great ones around the Premier League.
“We’re going to look to strengthen because we know teams around us are going to get better. If you’re not trying to continually evolve and improve, you’re standing still.”
So plans are evidently in place for the team to make some new additions to the squad this summer, but Josh Kroenke was also keen to stress that one of their priorities is keeping one particular man at the club – manager Mikel Arteta.
“Keeping Mikel around is [an] utmost priority and the good news for Arsenal fans worldwide is he’s enjoying the project, he’s enjoying being here and from his time as a player all the way up until now, he’s an Arsenal man through and through,” Kroenke said.
“When we pivoted from Unai and came into Mikel, the conversations were all about culture and reinventing that, perhaps taking a step back to go forward. Mikel really embraced that, especially the cultural aspect.”
An ambitious set of owners would view a Premier League title and a potential Champions League win as an opportunity to attract big names to the club, and they’d look to keep the manager who made it all possible.
The Kroenkes certainly seem to be suggesting that’s the plan, but after Saturday’s final, it will be up to them to live up to their word.
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