During Arsenal‘s recent tour of the United States, Josh Kroenke, son of Arsenal’s owner Stan Kroenke, took the opportunity to shed light on his family’s vision for the club.

In a candid conversation with Gaygooners, Kroenke outlined their primary objectives, focusing on building a strong connection with supporters and re-establishing the Emirates Stadium as a fortress.

Kroenke’s comments were particularly noteworthy given recent discussions about the possibility of Premier League matches being played overseas. Despite the financial allure of such a move, Kroenke expressed his opposition, stating, “We are happy with the current arrangement in the schedule both domestically and in Europe.”

Kroenke instead stressed the importance of “re-establishing a meaningful connection” with supporters, allowing them to play a role in shaping club policies and building trust in the team’s direction.

“I am not 100% sure of where this thought came from [for overseas games] but while it does sound attractive to a broadcaster or to FIFA, we are happy with the current arrangement in the schedule both domestically and in Europe,” Kroenke said.

“As a club, we have worked incredibly hard on and off the pitch the past few years… so our goal is to re-establish a meaningful connection with our supporters, help shape club policy where appropriate and develop trust in the direction we are heading as a club.”

He highlighted the unique atmosphere at the Emirates, referring to it as a “fortress” that provides players with an invaluable “love and injection of energy.” This underscores the significance of home matches for Arsenal, who aim to maximise the number of games played at their stadium.

“For anyone who has been at the Emirates the past few years, what we have now is very special, there a lot of factors that go into creating such a special environment,” he added.

“I believe the people in this room have helped turn our home stadium into a fortress and we want to host as many matches as possible so our players feel the love and injection of energy that is provided by the special environment.”

Kroenke’s vision for Arsenal goes beyond simply winning trophies; it encompasses creating a sustainable model for success and fostering a strong bond with the community.

The club’s recent success, culminating in a record-breaking season for both the men’s and women’s teams, has created a positive momentum. Kroenke’s comments suggest that the Kroenke family is committed to building on this success and ensuring that Arsenal remains a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.