Thousands of Arsenal fans swarmed the club’s Emirates Stadium ahead of their Premier League fixture against Everton to stage demonstrations against the club’s American owner Stan Kroenke and his son, a club director, Josh. This comes days after the club broke away from the proposed European Super League, which has served as a catalyst for an outpour of years of pent-up dissatisfaction with the general running of the club. 

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According to The Sun, police were called to the stadium as a section of fans began climbing the ticket section roof and throwing flares. 

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American billionaire Stan Kroenke joined the Arsenal board of directors in 2008 and became a majority owner three years later.

In that period, the Gunners have won four FA Cups but have slipped from Premier League contenders to top four mainstays to missing mid-table mediocrity. This year, they are on course to miss out on a Champions League place for a fifth year in a row. 

The general complaint from fans all these years has been a lack of injection of funds to both hold on to their best players while also acquire new talents to remain in contention for the title. All while rival clubs have splashed the cash en route to domestic and continental glory. 

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Reports also emerged over the years that Kroenke allegedly used funds from Arsenal to bolster his assets across the Atlantic, where his firm Kroenke Sports & Entertainment owns franchises like Los Angeles Rams in the NFL, Denver Nuggets in the NBA among others. 

All that frustration burst out when it was announced Arsenal, ninth in the Premier League, have joined elite European clubs as a founding member in the Super League. 

All six English clubs eventually pulled out, causing the project to collapse, and Arsenal issued an apology like all other clubs. However, the owners have also made it clear their intent to stay with the club, which has not gone down well with fans. 

Speaking to a supporter’s forum on Thursday, Josh relayed the official stance of the ESL being a major blunder on the owners’ part, but that his family will not sell the club. 

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“All of our trust was shredded this week, I understand that, but I still believe that we are fit to carry on in our positions as custodians of Arsenal.”

“When are we going to sell? I am not willing to answer that question because we have no intention of selling.”

The movement has gathered steam in recent days, with club legends, like former striker Ian Wright, supporting the fans’ protest. 

On Thursday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed a personal message of apology from Stan Kroenke, 73, for his role in the Super League plot.