Arsenal are on the cusp of a historic double, but the club’s ownership is already planning for an even brighter future. With the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest just days away, co-chair Josh Kroenke has made it clear that the Gunners will not rest on their laurels. Instead, he promises further squad strengthening, regardless of whether Mikel Arteta’s side lift the European Cup for the first time in the club’s history. The Kroenke family’s commitment extends beyond the pitch, as they also explore a significant redevelopment of the Emirates Stadium to enhance the matchday experience.
“If you’re not trying to continually evolve and improve, you’re standing still,” Kroenke said, underlining a philosophy that has driven the Kroenke family’s sports empire to multiple championships in the United States. That sentiment – that the sun will still come up the day after a triumph and rivals will be working to catch up – is the bedrock of Arsenal’s approach after ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title. The club spent over £250 million last summer on players who proved pivotal in the title charge, and that investment is set to continue even if the season culminates in European glory on Saturday night.
The Champions League final represents the summit of European football, and for Arsenal, it’s a chance to join the continent’s elite. Kroenke acknowledged the magnitude, noting that “champions of England sounds pretty good and champions of Europe could sound even better.” But he stressed that winning the double would not alter the club’s strategy. “Should we get a great result on Saturday, it’s not going to change or affect who we are,” he told The Guardian. The ownership group, which also holds championship-winning teams in the NFL, NHL, and NBA, understands that sustained success demands constant renewal. Their experience in American sports has taught them that standing still invites regression, especially in the Premier League, where financially powerful rivals are always strengthening.
Central to Arsenal’s project is manager Mikel Arteta, whose contract expires at the end of next season. Kroenke described extending the Spaniard’s deal as an “utmost priority” and confirmed that talks will resume after the campaign concludes. Arteta’s transformation of the club since replacing Unai Emery has been nothing short of remarkable. Kroenke credited him with “reinventing” the culture, noting how the former captain embraced the need to take a step back to move forward. That cultural reset was born from a painful moment – the 4–1 Europa League final defeat to Chelsea in Baku in 2019. Kroenke recalled flying to Azerbaijan and watching the worst 45 minutes of the season, which convinced him to tell his father, Stan Kroenke, that the club needed a coherent long-term strategy now that they had 100% ownership.
Since that low point, Arsenal’s spending under Arteta has totaled nearly £1 billion on transfer fees, but the results are tangible. The Premier League trophy, paraded at Selhurst Park last Sunday, is proof that the “step back” has led to a giant leap forward. The new contracts for key players and the ongoing talks with Arteta signal a desire to lock down the core of a squad that has been built carefully over several windows. Beyond the pitch, the Kroenkes are also turning their attention to upgrading the Emirates Stadium. They aim to “elevate the matchday experience” while preserving the ground’s character, drawing on their experience in improving facilities for their US franchises. Kroenke revealed that they are consulting advisers to ensure any redevelopment is done in an “elegant manner” that retains the stadium’s unique atmosphere. “We took it to a different level this year – that’s credit to Mikel and those players,” he said. “But there’s some character that I want to make sure we’re preserving and bringing back to the ground as well.”
The implications for English football are clear: Arsenal intend to launch an era of dominance. With Manchester City, Liverpool, and others looking to respond, the Gunners’ hierarchy knows that evolution is not optional. “We have very strong foundations in place to continue to build and try to sustain,” Kroenke said. “Getting the foundations in place is usually the hardest part of the journey and now we have all this, it is about trying to stay at the top knowing everyone is trying to climb the mountain after you.” This mindset, coupled with continued investment, positions Arsenal not just as one-off champions but as a long-term threat.
The Champions League showdown offers immediate redemption on the European stage, but the bigger picture reveals an ownership that has learned from past missteps. The 2019 Baku embarrassment forced a strategic pivot that finally delivered the Premier League title, and the club is determined not to repeat the mistakes of previous Arsenal sides that failed to kick on after success. With Arteta’s contract extension looming and summer signings on the agenda, the message is unequivocal: the Kroenke family is fully committed to ensuring Arsenal’s place at the pinnacle of world football.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.
