Markymark
As a best guess I’ve suggested on a few occasions that Arsene Wenger would go this season. This was based on gut feel, picking up any signs I could glean from the media (particularly journalists favoured by the club) and reviewing social media where the editor might have an “in” at the club. However I have to admit this confidence was recently shaken by what appears to have been a rearguard PR campaign probably via Wenger’s coterie that suggested he was staying.
An area I still felt essentially correct was that a little while back I flew a kite in the air suggesting that Ivan may be playing the long game . I used the metaphor of cricket, the point being that a long game being played to achieve what Ivan wanted was valid. The staff he has bought in - Mislintat, Sanllehi even Huss Fahmy dis not appear to be Wenger people. They set about creating an alternative power base to Wenger and Primorac.
I’ve also become increasingly convinced that the reason Ivan stayed was not so much as a willingness to suffer humiliation under Stan whilst taking a gamble on finally winning a war, but a solid understanding in place that the future is Josh Kroenke.
Josh is currently fairly low key in the media. His father is of course famously known as Silent Stan, not only the richest man in the room but the least vocal (reasons for this could be the stuff of further articles) but suffice to say Josh appears generally more engaging and at home across the various media platforms. He appears to operate that classic American way of mixing high power with down to earth homilies. Definitely a man of the people (perhaps President Kroenke in some future career move!). Josh has been trained to lead and so he will do so. In my opinion, Arsenal will be his test base. A little removed from too much American media scrutiny but also big enough to provide challenge at every conceivable level.
Stan needed his most trusted deputy to go to Arsenal a few months ago to report on the state of the club. That conclusion would result in a decision and this time it would be removed from a personal visit to a hotel room by Arsene Wenger. For Stan it probably was the most difficult sporting decision in his career, as he indeed suggested. For his son was saying sack your beloved employee. This was personal on a number of levels. Not least ceding power to your son.
Make no mistake Wenger was sacked. My opinion is that Josh sacked him.
So moving forward, in my opinion the biggest obstacle to change, Arsene Wenger, has been removed. So what if Josh becomes chairman? With this comes a very strong influence to the point of effectively running the club. Will we see anti-Josh protests? Previously I have suggested that a non-meddling owner is usually perceived as being good, but it was actually the relationship between Wenger and Stan, leading to a lack of necessary intervention that caused at least some of the toxic uproar.
I wonder with a new man in charge on pitchside and a board member able to talk frankly (at least in directors’ meetings) whether the anti-Kroenke factions will dissipate? Time of course will tell. A new Kroenke in charge may be one of the keys to mending the undoubted issues we face.
Let’s look forward to 2018-2019 with renewed heart.
To end, we are bringing out a special edition of The Gooner for the Burnley game. This will be a special on Arsène Wenger’s 22 years at the club. It will pay tribute to some of the wonderful times he has given us, but won’t ignore the less enjoyable stuff, if only because there will be a review of every season alongside a plethora of articles about different aspects of his time in North London. At the moment, it’s likely to be 84 pages thick and will cost £5. We have little doubt the official programme will also be an Arsène tribute of a more sugar-coated variety, but you pay your money, you take the choice. Important to note – no-one’s subscription covers this special edition. Existing subscriptions cover up to issue 271 (the current edition) and those of you who have committed to next season will get their first issue in August (272). This special edition will be available to order by post – you can pre-order it here – or if you are not coming to the Burnley game, assuming we do not sell out, the sellers for our reduced matchday sales operation next season should have copies.
