April 29 – Swedish billionaire and Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek has reasserted his commitment to takeover Arsenal from the Kroenke family, declaring he has the funds in place for a bid and wants to bring the club “back to its glory”.
“I’ve been an Arsenal fan since I was eight years old,” said Ek in an interview with American broadcaster CNBC. “I love the history, the players, and of course I love the fans. So as I look at that I just see a tremendous opportunity to set a real vision for the club, to bring it back to its glory.
“I want to establish trust with the fans and engage the fans again. So I’m very serious. I have secured the funds for it and I want to bring what I think is a very compelling offer to the owners and I hope they hear me out.”
With his public statements, Ek has been courting Arsenal fans, who took to the streets of North London last Friday to voice their dismay at the Kroenkes over Arsenal’s role in the European Super League debacle. But it remains to be seen if the Kroenke family can be tempted to sell and cash in at all. Four years ago, Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov attempted to take control of Arsenal, but the Kroenkes stood firm.
Earlier this week, Stan and Josh Kroenke released a statement to quash all the speculation. It read: “In recent days we have noted media speculation regarding a potential takeover bid for Arsenal Football Club. We remain 100% committed to Arsenal and are not selling any stake in the Club. We have not received any offer and we will not entertain any offer.”
The Kroenkes are one of the richest families in the US. They have no requirement to sell and the shares in Arsenal are privately held.
Even so, Ek is undeterred. “I’ve been a fan for 30 years and I certainly didn’t expect this would happen overnight, and I’m prepared that this could be a long journey. All I can do is prepare what I think is a very thoughtful offer, bring it to them and hope they hear me out.
“I just focus on the club, the fans and I focus on trying to bring the club back to glory and I’m first and foremost a fan. That’s the most important thing for me and I want the club to do better. That’s my primary interest.”
Ek has engaged the help of Arsenal legends Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry to piece together a credible bid, with the Kroenkes believed to have an asking price in excess of $2 billion.
On Thursday, Arsenal meet Villareal and their former coach Unai Emery in the semi-finals of the Europa League. The competition is the last route to secure European football for the team of Mikel Arteta and so defeat is not an option. At a news conference, the Spanish coach backed the American owners, highlighting that the Kroenkes “showed their commitment to the football club and their ambition” and singling out improved communication as the way to heal the relationship between the fans and the ownership.
He said: “If we all feel that it’s necessary and that it would be helpful, I’m sure they will do anything to bring the fans closer to them. If [supporters] get the opportunity to know them I think most of them will be surprised. And if that’s the case I think it would benefit everyone at the football club: it would benefit the fans and bring a lot of clarity. So if there’s a way to do that and it’s going to be helpful, let’s do it if that’s what it’s necessary.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1726818213labto1726818213ofdlr1726818213owedi1726818213sni@o1726818213fni1726818213