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An Arsenal takeover by a US investor? Bring it on!

Kroenke Sports Enterprise are reportedly showing an interest in the north London club. If that frees up cash for Arsene Wenger to go shopping, then full steam ahead.

by ArsenalnFriends.com on 27 March 2007

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Stan Kroenke: His company already have Arsenal connections (Gettyimages.com)

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Could Arsenal follow the likes of Manchester United and be taken over by an American company? Although the major shareholders of the Premiership club have no intention of selling up, broadcaster ITV are likely to be open to offers for their 9.9 per cent stake in the Gunners. Arsenal's parent company, listed on the alternative Plus market, currently stands at around £404million, a significant outlay for any potential investor.

US billionaire Stan Kroenke had been widely reported to be interested in acquiring the shares. His company, Kroenke Sports Enterprise, already have an 'innovative strategic relationship' with the north London club through Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids, and the group have a large portfolio of sports-related interests across the Atlantic.

However, any suggestions this would now be followed by KSE taking a financial stake in Arsenal have been quickly dismissed. Soccernet reported the following: "Kroenke Sports Enterprise have 'no interest or intention' of buying into Arsenal, according to a spokesman for the American company."

The agreement in place at the moment between the two clubs is primarily designed to help develop the Gunners' brand in America, and will also see an exchange of coaching as well as commercial ideologies, with an inaugural Arsenal Cup to be held for US clubs by the Rapids this summer.

Jeff Plush, managing director of the MLS outfit, was in London recently as part of a pre-season trip to Europe, which also included a visit to Valencia in Spain. He said: 'We can certainly give to Arsenal some of our expertise in sports marketing - we own five teams, a television network and four venues. With them, we are frankly a more credible football club than we were."

Even though KSE are distancing themselves from any talk of a potential takeover, it was inevitable interest in Arsenal would surface sooner rather than later. With a strong tradition, established fan base and a young side, buying into the Gunners would certainly make an attractive proposition.

The above speculation is very similar to the rumours flying around before the Chelsea and Manchester United takeovers. It's always done in such a way to prevent our share prices from shooting sky high. Personally, I think a takeover would be good. It would free up money for Arsene Wenger to buy some experienced and established players

It can only be good news if we have the funds to battle the other big theee. Then at least we are fighting on equal grounds. At the moment we are able commandos with pistols. We need machine guns and cannons to fight for the title.

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Comments (10)

by MJC on March 27, 2007

I'd rather have Fabregas then Ballack - so what would we use the money for?

by Osram on March 27, 2007

I'd welcome a foreign investor like I'd welcome a bout of the plague. We don't need a foreign investor. The Emirates Stadium will allow us to compete financially with every club in the world bar Chelsea, but we must be patient because it will take time for the debts to be paid off and for that revenue to make it's way to the manager. The problem with some people is that they are guilty of only thinking about the short-term and in the short term, a billionaire would provide us with more financial muscle. I'm happy with the fact that The Arsenal are owned by Arsenal fans. The clubs has links to the local community. The club has been in the chairmanship of the Hill-Wood family for almost three generations. Our board understand what football means to us fans. They aren't Russian gangsters or Americans who want a soccer franchise to add to their Sports Portfolio. I'd rather see Arsenal slip into midtable obscurity than fall into the hands of people who raped his people's natural oil resources or an unscrupulo

by MJC on March 27, 2007

Arsenal first six months income for 200607 season was £110m. This is the least profitable half of the season. Even allowing for going out of the cups, Arsenal should have £240m income for the whole year. Last season Real Madrid had the highest worldwide income with £210m. Now tell me again - why do we need this US investor???

by wenger on March 27, 2007

to have lots of $$$ so that I can buy lots of star!!! and beat Manure and Chelski next year..

by JD on March 27, 2007

tragedy if arsenal was taken over by non-fans

by TimR on March 27, 2007

Are you mad?? Ill tell you now, all this foreign investment in our game will end badly. Arsenal are a football team not some franchise. I want to see out players grow and develop into world beaters like we have seen with Cesc and will do with Denilson, Walcott, et all. Do you really want to swap what we have for a regime like they have at Chelsea, blowing the transfer market and signing players at 500% more than their actual worth just to stop other teams from having them? Screw that.

by jb on March 27, 2007

Under our present leadership i can say with great certainty that i know where my club will be in ten years time, something that Chelski and others simply cannot. The simple facts are that you will never make money from football clubs, at their most profitable man utd only made around £50m in profits. These guys investing right now are simply blinded by the tv deal figures. Sooner rather than later they will see the truth and i for one am filled with dread at the prospect of my club, our club, being in the hands of one of these men when they figure it out. Their motivation is simply money and they would drop the club without a second's thought. We don't need billions, Arsene knows, we should all cling to that certainty. Within two years we will have reclaimed the league, within ten we will be European champions, and this current team will grow into the best that Arsene has cultivated. Trust.