Kroenke promises major investment despite potential double glory

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Arsenal’s owners have committed to significant squad strengthening regardless of Saturday’s Champions League final outcome, with Josh Kroenke declaring there will be no “standing still” even if the Gunners complete a historic double in Budapest.

Speaking after Arsenal’s Premier League title triumph, Kroenke told The Guardian that the club will continue investing heavily despite spending over £250m last summer on the squad that delivered their first league title in 22 years.

“We’re going to look to strengthen because we know teams around us are going to get better,” Kroenke explained. “If you’re not trying to continually evolve and improve, you’re standing still.”

Contract extension priority

The American co-chair also confirmed that securing Mikel Arteta’s long-term future remains an “utmost priority” for the club. With the manager’s current deal expiring at the end of next season, contract talks are expected to resume once Arsenal’s campaign concludes.

“Keeping Mikel around is [an] utmost priority and the good news for Arsenal fans worldwide is he’s enjoying the project,” Kroenke said. “From his time as a player all the way up until now, he’s an Arsenal man through and through.”

Kroenke credited Arteta’s cultural transformation since replacing Unai Emery in 2019, particularly following the painful 4-1 Europa League final defeat to Chelsea in Baku that prompted a strategic rethink.

Stadium improvements planned

Beyond squad investment, Arsenal are also planning significant upgrades to the Emirates Stadium under chief executive Richard Garlick’s leadership. Kroenke outlined ambitious plans to enhance the matchday experience, drawing on KSE’s experience with their American sports franchises.

“There’s some character I want to make sure we’re preserving and bringing back to the ground as well,” he explained. “We have a chance to come over and really give the supporters an elevated matchday experience.”

The Kroenke family’s sports empire has previously delivered championship success across multiple American sports, including two Super Bowls, two Stanley Cups and the NBA Championship. This experience has shaped their long-term vision for sustaining Arsenal’s newfound success.

Since taking full control in 2018 after buying out Alisher Usmanov’s shares for £600m, Arsenal have invested almost £1bn in transfer fees under Arteta’s guidance. That investment has now yielded their first Premier League title since the Invincibles season, with European glory potentially just 90 minutes away against Paris Saint-Germain.

The commitment to continued investment suggests Arsenal’s ownership recognizes that maintaining their position at English football’s summit will require sustained financial backing in an increasingly competitive landscape.