Arteta visited by Josh Kroenke and Sean McVay as Arsenal take Rams inspiration

15 May 2023 , 14:27

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Josh Kroenke, Director of Arsenal, went to visit Mikel Arteta after the defeat to Brighton on Sunday (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta was visited by Arsenal director Josh Kroenke after their defeat to Brighton on Sunday.

The Gunners lost 3-0 to the Seagulls in the Premier League clash on Sunday. It leaves Arsenal almost certainly out of the title race, with just two matches left to play.

Manchester City are now four points ahead with a game in hand and have a vastly superior goal difference. Should Arsenal fail to beat Nottingham Forest on Saturday then the title would go to Pep Guardiola’s side - even if that does happen, Man City can still claim the title with victory over Chelsea a day later.

After the loss to Brighton, Arteta apologised to Arsenal fans for the manner of the defeat. The Gunners conceded all three goals in the second half to hand a major advantage to Man City in the race for the title.

According to , Arteta was visited by Josh Kroenke and Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, who were both in attendance for the match at the Emirates Stadium. Kroenke, son of Stan Kroenke, is a director at Arsenal and the vice-chairman of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE).

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The LA Rams are also owned by KSE, with Kroenke and McVay working closely together with the NFL franchise. KSE has numerous sports subsidiaries as well as Arsenal and the Rams. NBA’s Denver Nuggets, NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and MLS’s Colorado Rapids are just some of the teams that are owned by KSE.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was visited by Josh Kroenke and Sean McVay after the defeat to Brighton (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

KSE's approach to Arsenal has similarities to the Rams, with both having hired relatively young and inexperienced coaches in McVay and Arteta, while continuing to back them against criticism. At the Rams, they reached the Super Bowl in 2019 in McVay’s second season as head coach. Despite the pressure of losing the biggest game in the NFL, KSE stood by McVay.

That faith, combined with the financial backing by bringing in new players, led to the Rams winning the Super Bowl in 2022. And now the report says that a similar strategy will be employed at Arsenal.

Arsenal will reportedly continue to back Arteta in the summer transfer window and will look to bolster their squad ahead of another title challenge next season, meaning it's likely that more money will be available to Arteta to bring in new recruits - especially with the added finance of the Champions League.

Mark Wakefield