02 December 2023 , 13:40
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Three Arsenal Invincibles, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry backed Stan Kroenke to walk away from the Gunners, but the American businessman has turned things around at the Emirates Stadium.
There had been increasing pressure on the Kroenke family to give up their ownership of Arsenal in recent years, but the demands have eased thanks to Mikel Arteta's turnaround. The Gunners came agonisingly close to winning their first Premier League title since the Invincibles in 2004, but were pipped by Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in May.
Despite the title race heartbreak, Arteta's team have kicked off the 2023/24 campaign in a similar fashion to last season's near-miss, with the Gunners a point ahead of City after 13 games.
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The mood around the Emirates has certainly changed, after a period of frustration at the tail end of Arsene Wenger's tenure and Unai Emery's brief stint in North London. During that time the finger was also pointed at Arsenal's ownership, with three of their greatest players leading the call.
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In 2021 the club were linked with a potential buyout by Spotify founder and businessman Daniel Ek. Former captain Vieira called on Kroenke to hand over the reins to Ek, telling the ITV Football Podcast in May 2021: "In the last couple of years I believe that the club didn’t take the right direction. I think it is time for change. If the change doesn’t happen, I believe that Arsenal will be in a difficult position...
"I think every single year Arsenal didn’t get through to the Champions League or even this year to the Europa League. So this is a big disappointment for all of us as Arsenal fans. But we get to the time where everybody at the club [and] the Kroenkes need to get more involved to take Arsenal back where the club should be.
Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira led the calls for the Kroenke family to leave (Getty Images)“If that’s not the case, I think it is time for them to let the club go and let somebody else take care of the football club.” A similar point was raised by Henry too, who pledged his support behind the bidding Ek whilst appearing on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football. "To be able to get there [to a takeover] you need to have someone to respond on the other side, it didn’t happen yet but we, he, is here to stay.
" So let’s see what going to happen but for the moment we obviously enjoyed the win. I think it’s going to be long, how long it’s going to be? I don’t actually know but we’re here to stay.” The comments came at a time when pressure was at its highest on the Kroenke, and was further heightened when it received the backing of a third Invincible in Bergkamp.
“After I left the club I always kept in touch with Thierry and Patrick," he told Dutch media outlet VI. " The club is in my heart, I have become a fan of players. Just like Patrick and Thierry, I recognise the Arsenal from our own time less and less. The ambition to win top prizes is in Arsenal’s DNA. Never accepting to lose.
Dennis Bergkamp is an Arsenal great (PA)"That mentality has slowly disappeared. I sense resignation about the current situation. That is serious. As if, given the financial situation, it is normal for Arsenal to end mid-table. That does not belong to this club. Arsenal’s DNA must be restored. We can’t force anyone to sell. I understand that, in addition to that offer, Daniel has now reached out twice to Josh Kroenke and his bankers.
"Whatever Kroenke’s intentions are, it would be good if we at least have a conversation with each other. In the interest of the club. Regardless, Daniel is not a quitter and neither are we football boys." Of course it was not to be for Ek and his supporters, as the Kroenke's kept hold of the North London asset.
And since then things have gone from strength-to-strength on the pitch, with a new-look Arsenal under entity attempting to return to their former glory days, as they chase down a first Premier League trophy in two decades.