Arsenal Co-Chairman Says COVID Era Helped Arteta Rebuild the Club

Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke has credited the COVID-19 period as a key turning point in Mikel Arteta’s rebuilding of the club, saying it gave the manager the time and space to revive Arsenal as a “sleeping giant.”

Kroenke said the behind-closed-doors era allowed Arteta to work through the early pressure of his reign while reshaping the team during a difficult spell for the club.

Appointed in 2019, Arteta faced criticism after back-to-back eighth-place Premier League finishes, despite leading Arsenal to FA Cup success in 2020.
Since then, the Spaniard has transformed Arsenal into title contenders once again, rebuilding the squad, restoring belief among supporters and guiding the club back to Premier League glory after 22 years.

Kroenke praised Arteta’s leadership and influence on the club’s culture, while confirming that keeping the manager at Arsenal remains a top priority as talks over a new contract draw closer.

He also assured fans that the club’s owners remain committed to investing in the squad as Arsenal aim to build on their recent success.