Son of Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke has a vital role to play at the club.
Josh Kroenke works closely with the rest of the Arsenal leadership team, including sporting director Edu Gaspar, managing director Richard Garlick, and manager Mikel Arteta.
Whilst others at the club have influence, Arteta himself wields a huge degree of power, and is omnipotent over the football side of things. He has absolute power over team selection and strategies, as it should be, and also has a big hand in the club’s transfer policy.
On top of that, Arteta is the face of the club as far as the press and fans are concerned, and has a say in contract matters and various other concerns when it comes to the day-to-day running of the club.
Arsenal handed Arteta a new contract recently, granting him even greater power and influence at the Emirates Stadium.
This state of affairs can only become a problem for the club if things take a downturn on the pitch.
Stan and Josh Kroenke facing Arsenal power struggle with Mikel Arteta
On a previous episode of the The Athletic FC podcast, journalist David Ornstein warned Arsenal that they could be heading for a power struggle.
The reporter said: “It will take Edu as sporting director, Richard Garlick as managing director… the Kroenkes as owners, to make sure that they support and challenge Mikel Arteta… But as he’s grown in power at that club, it’s not easy to question him internally.”
The Gunners are now struggling on the pitch. Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by Newcastle United on Saturday, dealing a blow to their Premier League title dream. The North London club have now dropped points in five of their ten Premier League outings so far this season.
Arteta’s tactics aren’t working, as his side have been toothless in attack all too often this season.
Josh Kroenke must make difficult Arteta decision
The Kroenke family are responsible for making decisions in the best interest of the club.
Whilst some Arsenal fans are calling for Arteta to be sacked, there will be no appetite within the club at this stage to cut ties with the Spanish coach, and nor should there be.
However, Arsenal need to ensure that Arteta isn’t allowed to become so powerful that he is beyond internal challenge and scrutiny. The club have arguably made the mistake of allowing such a scenario to occur before, in the case of Arsene Wenger.
The younger Kroenke must now spearhead a drive to keep Arteta within his remit and on track, and that may mean applying a measure of pressure on the manager.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
