Arsenal fan groups join together to remind Kroenke what the club is really all about. 16 different fan groups on social media have managed to gather 35,000 signatures with the The #WeCareDoYou campaign. Loyal fans are objecting to the way that Arsenal is currently being run and have asked the owner, Stan Kroenke, to “reinvigorate the club”.

Although the campaign is not enough on its own to change the gunners direction or sway the thoughts of the belligerent and emotionless Stan Kroenke, it is drawing attention to the club.

#WeCareDoYou – #Arsenal fans are asking for the board to be strengthened, improvements in the match day experience to give our players that needed boost and a firm NO to the proposed European super league. pic.twitter.com/HeQFRA187d

— AST (@AST_arsenal) July 15, 2019

Kroenke himself is aware of the growing discord and just today, tried to join the Arsenal fans forum, where surprisingly he is said to have six friends. Quite what he feels may be achieved by this action is unclear, especially if he communicates as frequently via social media as he does through the club.

Some will see this campaign purely as a monetary issue, indicating fans want massive seasonal spends on world class players, it isn’t. Of course investment needs to increase to allow Arsenal to compete but its the lack of clarity, ambition and passion. It’s being run as a commodity that generates commercial opportunities but its not geared for success.

The statement by the group said,

“As Arsenal fans, we have watched with frustration as the team’s football performances have declined over the past decade,”

It continued,

“When Stan Kroenke began buying Arsenal shares, the club had just competed in a first Champions League final.

“Twelve years on, Arsenal are about to play in the Europa League for the third year running.”
It comes as Arsenal are facing a transfer window with just £45million to spend, but this time the campaign is not aimed at forcing Kroenke out, but more to get him to change his approach, especially his “passive ownership” of the club.

“Off the pitch fans have never felt more marginalised, less listened to or valued. This was sadly illustrated when Stan Kroenke forcibly bought out the last remaining supporter-shareholders without even a word of appreciation for their custodianship role in the club. It feels as though Arsenal is at a crossroads. Things need to change. What all of us as signatories to this statement want to see is meaningful action by Stan Kroenke to reinvigorate our football club.”

Finally it questioned the composition of the Arsenal board, the “soulless” atmosphere at the Emirates and a lack of any real transfer strategy, as well as “changing the football executive”.

It’s no secrect that Arsenal’s handling of difficult situations has been a complete farce with the PR department appearing as incompetent as the board. The whole handling of contract negotiations and transfer funds, has been deeply embarrassing for a club that is still perceived as a football giant, with the history to match.

https://twitter.com/WorldwideAFC/status/1150738997490176003?s=19

I’ve absolutely no doubt that this could get very ugly as the season gets underway, especially if things don’t go according to plan in the transfer window or as the season unfolds. Arsenal are never far away from a protest with so much upheaval and unrest since the latter days of the Wenger years.

Although it’s nothing new, it’s a coincidence that Arsenal’s first game on their pre season tour was against another Kroenke bauble, The Colorado rapids. Only in America could a football teams name be merged with something that has no baring on the sport.

Just to add some perspective here, The rapids home stadium is called Dicks Sporting goods park in Commerce City. Umm, very catchy. The point is, that back in 2017 Rapids fans questioned the direction their club was heading in.

Centennial 38 released a similar statement outlining their concerns regarding recruitment, planning, and strategy but it all seemed rather less acidic :

“We would like to emphasize to everyone: our members, the Rapids staff, the players, the press, and the greater Colorado soccer fan base as a whole, that there is a very important distinction to be made between being critical of the club itself, and being critical of the people that run it. Players, coaches, management, and even ownership all come and go. In the end the only thing that remains is the identity of the club, and the community that surrounds it.”

It’s all as familiar as Christmas. Kroenke buys out a club like Arsenal, turns it into ‘an investment vehicle’ or moves it away from its fans completely in a bid to make money from endorsements and hotdogs !

https://twitter.com/TheArsenalMemz/status/1150714197799555072?s=19

He will continue to provoke negative comments because he just isn’t interested in Arsenal as much as its supporters. Only a miracle will prevent the two sides clashing further in the future, because sadly, Stan isn’t going anywhere.