Stan Kroenke has already met three-word Arsenal promise with clear takeover stance

How times have changed for Arsenal and for Stan Kroenke. A much-maligned owner in 2021 for his perceived role in seeing the club fall from being a Champions League regular to being out of Europe entirely in the mid-to-late 2010s, now owner of a club competing at the top of the Premier League once again.

The turning point for all of this came in April two years ago and the day of the European Super League, a date that football fans turned on those involved in the establishment at their clubs. Kroenke, who had already been on the receiving end of mass criticism from Emirates Stadium regulars, was hit harder than most.

In his ten years at the club, things had gone from mediocrity to mid-table. From his first year involved in 2008 to the departure of Arsene Wenger, the Gunners finished fourth four times but also fell to sixth by the time the French manager was told he wouldn't be staying at the club.

The north Londoners had gone from being second, missing out on a first title in 13 years despite Leicester leading the way, to fifth and sixth as anger grew and tension built. Speaking in the October of that season and Kroenke was keen to praise the manager. «We have to do better but don’t sell short the FA Cup and Arsene’s record setting,» he told the Mirror.

“His record of consistency through 20 years. We did fall out of the Champions League but with four more points than finishing second. It’s competitive and arguably more competitive." Now things have taken quite the turn.

The appointments of Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have reinvigorated the club, Josh Kroenke's impact and role within has been central to changes and very quickly the masterplan is in full view. Peaks and troughs remain on the landscape but the current position