Covid era gave Arteta space to revive Arsenal, says Kroenke

Stan and Josh Kroenke have had majority control of Arsenal since 2018

Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke says behind-closed-doors football during the Covid-19 pandemic allowed manager Mikel Arteta "space" to help revive the "sleeping giant".

The Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) group took full control of Arsenal in 2018 but it has not always been easy, with fan protests at how the club was being run taking place during their tenure.

The Kroenkes hired Arteta in 2019, giving the former Arsenal player his first senior managerial role after a period of uncertainty at the club.

It took time for that vision to take hold with two eighth-placed finishes, despite a 2020 FA Cup win, leading to some questioning whether Arteta was the right man for the job.

But now the Spaniard has transformed the club after six-and-a-half years in charge and has led the Gunners to their first Premier League title in 22 years.

And in a wide-ranging interview, Kroenke talked about:

How the pandemic meant that Arteta had time without fan pressure

The Gunners' summer plans to strengthen to "stay top of the mountain"

Being on his hands and knees watching the video assistant referee decision against West Ham

And how the culture has changed at the club

Giving a manager their first senior job in football is always a risk, but Kroenke says Arteta's character made it clear that he was the right candidate to succeed Unai Emery in December 2019.

"Anybody that gets a chance to be around Mikel, you can buy into what he's selling pretty easily," Kroenke said.

"So I don't want to give myself or my father [Stan Kroenke, founder and chairman of KSE and co-chair of Arsenal] any credit.

"I think Mikel and his staff and our players are the ones that earned those rights to have the patience in those moments by the amount of work and energy they were putting in behind the scenes."

Arteta won the 2020 FA Cup but finished eighth in a league affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant games were played behind closed doors.

"I don't know if I would ever acknowledge it, or Mikel or anybody - there was something about Mikel having a little bit of what I would say 'space' during Covid when there weren't fans around." Kroenke said.

"There were some growing pains that went on during matches, different moments, and obviously we won the FA Cup, but to not have that extra pressure of fans being on top of you at different points in time when we were going through different growth phases was probably something I don't think any of us would acknowledge in the moment.

"But, looking back I think we can say 'maybe that was a little bit of a benefit'."

It has not always been an easy transition for the Kroenkes, who took full ownership of the club in 2018 after being shareholders since 2007.

There was a "We Care, Do You?" movement from supporters who called into question the owners' commitment to the club.

"There was a lot of heavy lifting going on behind the scenes at the club at that point in time," Kroenke said.

"We went through a big transition from Arsene [Wenger], obviously a legendary person and manager.

"Transitioning to a new era after 22 years was going to be difficult.

"One: it was taking the club private that summer.