Stan Kroenke moves to take over Arsenal. This is huge. David Dein has resigned and there is speculation that he will join forces with Kroenke, thereby giving both a 30% share of the club. British law would require them to make a formal bid for the team.
Intriguingly, this takeover is perceived as hostile because many shareholders have not welcomed it. Together they control over 45% of the stake. Kroneke will have to start persuading them to sell out their shares.
Kroenke’s MO seems to be to sow as much disruption into shareholder proceedings and vote off the reluctant ones and force the remaining ones into an agreement.
In the end, this may all work out and given the fact that the Premiership now has almost half its clubs under control from across the pond, the heartburn from all this might be minimal. What is more worrisome is the future of Arsenal’s players. Wenger’s emphasis on youth is rubbing older, more experienced players like William Gallas the wrong way. He has been unsettled since he came on board and is now looking to moving to either Real or Inter. The loss of Gallas would be immense. Arsenal is now looking to bring Florent Malouda from Lyons.
The re-signing of Jens Lehmann is a mistake. The man has been out of depth in many of the matches and his form has not inspired much confidence. He makes some fantastic reflexive saves but he can also muff up a simple ball exchange. Wenger needs to seriously think of a new first squad goalkeeper. With Kroenke’s kitty, they should be courting Gianluigi Buffon or Gregory Coupet. Both are steadier than Lehmann and have as much experience.
8 comments on “Kroenke’s buyout of Arsenal perceived as hostile”
First of there is absolutely no TRUTH to the fallowing statement.
“Arsenal is now looking to bring Florent Malouda from Lyons”
Arsene is in now way looking for a left back. He already got very good left back in the squad. Cliche and Traore will replace Malouda shourtly in the French senior squad so why go for him.
U are a cock!
Its good for Arsenal that Lehmann is staying because he is a quality keeper and they are hard to find.
He occasionally makes mistakes as he is vulnerable on crosses especially from dead ball situations and his sprees outside the area leave a lot to be desired. However he is an excellent shot stopper, his positioning is very good and his record on one to one situations is not bad either. He is also very experienced and this is very important for Arsenal at the moment as there is a distinct absence of wise heads in the dressing room and on the pitch!
Also do not forget that he will cost nothing whereas his replacement will cost from 3m upwards.
‘Resigning’ does not mean ‘re-signing’. Isn’t Buffon getting a little long in the tooth?
Gaffer, thanks. Correction made. And Buffon is 29, Coupet 34.
Arsenal Analysis, agreed that Lehmann is one of the best reflexive goalkeepers but he is miserable when it comes to making decisions or thinking things through. Seriously, having a back 4 as inexperienced as Arsenal’s and a goalie whose decision making leaves a lot to be desired have left them extremely vulnerable.
Gaffer, Buffon was born in 1979 I think. This would make him about 29, so he’s got 8 years at least in him yet.
“First of there is absolutely no TRUTH to the fallowing statement.
“Arsenal is now looking to bring Florent Malouda from Lyons”
Arsene is in now way looking for a left back. He already got very good left back in the squad. Cliche and Traore will replace Malouda shourtly in the French senior squad so why go for him.”
Malouda isn’t a left back, he’s a left winger. Abidal is the left back for France and Lyon so you trying to correct him has made you look stupid.
There are good reasons to oppose this takeover: it will put the club into a far larger debt than it already is, and it will take even more money out of the club. Revenues will go toward the banks and Kroenke, to service their debt. And it’s a huge assumption to say that Kroenke’s money will go toward splashing money into players.