The sun burned, Champions League hopes evaporated and all of a sudden the lightning rod for Arsenal supporters’ disillusionment moved away from the man in the dugout and out towards the Atlantic. The chant started in the North Bank and suddenly spread, growing in urgency as it coursed round the stadium: “Stan Kroenke – get out of our club.”
The news that broke last week about Alisher Usmanov’s $1.3bn bid for the majority shareholding held by Arsenal’s American investor has broadened the conversation about the club’s status and ambitions. While the disaffected have generally pointed their fingers at Arsène Wenger the club’s direction above and beyond the manager is now under scrutiny. Kroenke is expected in England next week before the FA Cup final. The microscope is not something he welcomes but the lens will inevitably focus in. The Kroenke model across his sports franchises tends not to reach for the stars and Arsenal’s fanbase want a say about that.
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