Mikel Arteta receives visit from Josh Kroenke after Arsenal blow Premier League title

After Arsenal's title hopes were seemingly ended by Brighton and Hove Albion, Gunners' supremo Josh Kroenke paid a visit to Mikel Arteta in what appears to be a showing of solidarity

Patrick Austen-Hardy Senior Sports Journalist

18:52, 15 May 2023

Mikel Arteta could not hide his disappointment after the game (Image: YouTube/Sky Sports Premier League)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was visited by Gunners' supremo Josh Kroenke after their disappointing loss to Brighton and Hove Albion.

The North Londoners' Premier League title challenge appears to be all over after the Seagulls romped to a 3-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta apologised to the Gunners’ fans, who departed the stadium en masse after Pervis Estupinan scored Brighton’s third goal of the game.

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Victory for Manchester City in their next match against Chelsea will see them lift the title for the third consecutive season. And after the Gunners’ bleak showing, Kroenke paid a visit to the former Everton midfielder.

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According to the London Evening Standard, the Kroenke Sports and Entertainment vice-chairman, alongside LA Rams head coach Sean McVay, spoke to Arteta after the final whistle. Similarly to Arteta, McVay is a young coach Kroenke appointed to lead their NFL franchise in 2017.

While the decision was viewed as a huge gamble, McVay led the Rams to the Super Bowl one year later. In the 2020 season, the Rams fell just short of their goals, but with the strong backing from KSE, McVay went on to lead the Rams to a second Super Bowl triumph in 2021.

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Josh Kroenke has repeatedly thrown his support behind Arteta(Image: Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

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Sean McVay has won two Super Bowl titles with the LA Rams(Image: Getty Images)

Kroenke has shown the same faith in Arteta, even when the club was rock bottom of the Premier League with nine goals conceded and zero scored at the start of the 2021-22 campaign. On April 1, Arsenal were eight points clear at the top and appeared to be on their way to a first title triumph since 2014.

However, an injury to defensive colossus William Saliba appeared to be the first domino to a downfall which has seen them only take nine points from a possible 21. Barring a spectacular collapse from City, their title hopes will end in disappointment.

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Arteta apologised to Arsenal fans after the match(Image: Getty Images)

“I hate the feeling of letting people down when they are really expecting something, and that’s the biggest regret I have today,” a glum Arteta said after the loss.

“We have to live with the emotion that we have right now, that we fell short, and it wasn’t good enough.”

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