Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke has reaffirmed the commitment of Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE) to provide the financial support necessary for the club’s future success, following their “slow burn” triumph in securing their first Premier League title in 22 years.
The Gunners celebrated their victory with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday at Selhurst Park, thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke, finishing seven points ahead of Manchester City.
This marks Arsenal’s first trophy in six years, a tangible reward for nearly £1 billion invested in players since Mikel Arteta became head coach in 2019.
KSE has previously faced numerous protests from fans regarding their management of the club, but Josh and his father Stan transformed the atmosphere by carrying out the Premier League trophy during the presentation ceremony, met with cheers from the 3,000 travelling Arsenal supporters.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Josh stated: “You can see, feel, and hear what this means. The fans behind me are overwhelmed with emotion after 22 years. This group truly deserves it.”
“We are invested emotionally, financially, in every way. This club means everything to us. While it took some time for others to see that, we have great people, players, and coaches here. We just need to keep providing the resources to create more magic like we did this season.”
“It’s incredibly special. The journey has been slower than our championships in the United States, where playoff systems exist. The ongoing points system is a grind, and credit must go to the staff, players, and Mikel [Arteta] for maintaining focus. They truly deserve this.”
“Today is about celebrating; tomorrow we will return to work because there’s one more match to play.”
Arteta praised the role played by the Kroenkes, who also own the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Avalanche, in the club’s success. He acknowledged several executives who recently departed, including former sporting director Edu and ex-chief executive Vinai Venkatesham.
“They provided me the opportunity to manage this football club without any prior experience,” Arteta said. “So, first and foremost, I owe my gratitude to everyone involved in that decision, especially Edu, former vice-chair Tim Lewis, Vinai, and many others. Josh and Stan are still present, as evidenced by their faces today.”
“Many individuals along the way have been vital to our success, helping to build this connection and create such a competitive team, which ultimately led us to win the Premier League.”
Looking ahead to their first match as champions, Arteta expressed confidence in further achievements for Arsenal: “I told the players that this shirt now carries a different weight. We are the champions, and that brings a new level of confidence and energy.”
“However, it comes with its own responsibilities, and my job, along with everyone at the club, is to lift our standards and strive for even more, as I believe we are capable of achieving greater heights.”
For the significant occasion on Sunday, Arteta and his players donned the team’s classic red-and-white jerseys bearing “Champions 2026” on the back.
The season could yet improve for Arsenal, as they have an opportunity to win the Champions League for the first time, facing Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Budapest, Hungary on May 30.