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Arsenal legend Wright turns on Kroenke for lack of passion
Former Arsenal striker says Silent Stan does not understand the pain felt by Gunners fans
LEGENDARY Arsenal striker Ian Wright has added his voice to the chorus of dissatisfied supporters who are fed up with current owner Stan Kroenke and who hope there may be some truth in the weekend reports of a £1.5bn Middle Eastern takeover bid.
Following Arsenal's defeat in Sunday's derby against Spurs, Wright has used his column in The Sun to question the American owner's passion for the Gunners. Wright also expresses sympathy for rival shareholder Alisher Usmanov, who has been denied a seat on the board at the Emirates.
The club's former record goal-scorer has become an increasingly vocal critic of Arsene Wenger and Kroenke, known as 'Silent Stan' because of his refusal to talk to the media. Now he suggests that Kroenke does not "feel the pain" that Arsenal fans are currently experiencing.
"Arsenal's majority shareholder needs to start answering some questions and tell everyone what his detailed plans are for the club," says Wright.
"Kroenke has not heard the arguments from fans who pay thousands of pounds watching their side each season. He must listen to the many fans who would like to see Usmanov involved.
"The Middle East consortium are unlikely to be Arsenal fans. But Usmanov comes to games and, like all supporters, is desperate to see Arsenal challenge again."
Wright adds that if Kroenke has turned down the reported offer from Qatar and the UAE, then he should explain why.
The attack is something of a volte face from Wright, who welcomed Kroenke's takeover in 2011 as "excellent news", proclaiming that the American had a "bit of class". But he warned then: "We don't want to keep seeing Arsenal's title challenges crumbling by mid-March."
The fact that they now crumble before Christmas has obviously not impressed him.
Meanwhile, another club legend, Liam Brady has insisted that the fans are still behind Wenger. He told the Daily Mail: "I hope that Arsene is given the resources to spend and have a go at putting us back where we were eight years ago."
Brady, who is Arsenal's youth academy director and played for the club for seven years in the 1970s, added that the French manager still had the backing of the board. ·
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Wenger has the backing of the board but surely not of the fans
says you, Wenger has the skill and the passion for the club to make it grand again
The "takeover" is not going to happen for the same reason that Arsenal can't just go and get all the big names some fans want. The other side has to be willing to sell. Kronke's not going to any time soon (if ever), so fans had better get used to the idea of sound financial stewardship. Usmanov might be able to schmooz former players, but that won't get him majority holding. He missed his opportunity to outbid Kronke. If he wants a place on the board, he should stop talking rubbish and pretending he can buy trophies.
All Arsenal fans love Wrighty, but he's simply not talking smart in this case. "Passion" seems to equal splashing the cash. Well, they splashed cash for many of the players on the book now (remember record signing Arshavin - whom the fans have mostly trashed over the last two years).
This takeover is dead in the water unless Kronke has a massive change of heart, which he won't - and that should please sensible Arsenal fans who want a team that isn't facing administration down the line when the mysterious "buyers" tire of their plaything.
Wenger has the backing of the fans who know anything about football. It's only the juvenile dreamers who think they could buy Messi tomorrow if they'd just free up a few million pounds that want Wenger to go. Even players who back Usmanov say Wenger is the man for the job, and fans of other teams laugh when they hear about the Arsenal "fans" calling for Wenger's sacking. "Please do it and help us," is their response.