Mikel Arteta's bounce may have gone from his step as Arsenal all but saw their title hopes shattered at home to Brighton. After a season of almost unbelievable positivity, the chasmic reality between Manchester City and the rest of the league became clear once more.
Pep Guardiola's men breezed past an Everton team that became just the second side to beat Arsenal earlier this season, an Everton that had beaten Brighton last week in a 5-1 mauling by the sea. City put all of that to one side and stamped them into the carpet on their way to a fifth title in six years.
It's a tough reality to take for Arsenal, who have led the way for so much of this season, often riding a wave through the league. They weren't expected to do this and proved many who had doubted the skill of Arteta in his early months in charge wrong. The same can be said of the view of Stan Kroenke.
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It was he who chose to replace Unai Emery with Arteta in 2019 and also him that bore the brunt of anger and resentment from fans that have grown frustrated at the stagnation since the late Arsene Wenger era. It is his backing of young players and a new recruitment set-up that has helped create this hungry beast at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite the disappointment that radiated on the streets of north London on Sunday evening, an undeserved way to bow out of a brilliant season, Kroeke and his son, Josh, remain supportive of Arteta and his work. The Evening Standard write that Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) have full faith in the manager despite conceding an eight point gap to be left on the brink of a second placed finish.
The new club vice-chair was in attendance at the game, as he has been for several key meetings this season, most notably the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City. It is said that Josh Kroenke went to speak to the Spaniard, who was visably disappointed after the game.
Alongside LA Rams coach Sean McVay - who manages the NFL franchise also owned by KSE - Kroenke spoke with Arteta and already has the blueprint for what comes next. The son of Stan is already growing in stature at the club and within the family empire and is developing a reputation within the fanbase and club.
"We are always connected. I think that relationship is getting stronger and stronger. They’ve been over a few times and we’ve been there a few times," Arteta said earlier this season.
"It’s a very special relationship right now to understand the way they think about sports, what they’ve done in other sports and with other franchises. The ambition is there and the alignment is certainly there as well. It’s certainly positive to spend some time together.
"It was the time that we had some spare time as well. It was very useful for everybody to do it in that period."
For him moving forward the perfect response was right in front of him. McVay himself was backed as a young coach by Kroenke and he moved them up the NFL and became runners up in 2018. With financial support and time he helped them win the Super Bowl in 2021.
For Arsenal and Kroenke it is a tough blow to take after the ride they have been on, but there is already pre-existing evidence of this being the start and not the end.
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