AN ARSENAL fan was spotted defacing the Josh Kroenke mural outside the Emirates.
Kroenke is a director and co-chairman at Arsenal alongside his dad Stan.
GettyA fan edited the Josh Kroenke mural outside the Emirates[/caption]
GettyHe urged the co-chairman to ‘splash the cash’ in the January transfer window[/caption]
The SunSunSport captured the moment before the Champions League game with Dinamo Zagreb[/caption]
But it is Kroenke Jr who takes a more active role in the day-to-day running of the football club.
So much so that a painting was added to a wall of artwork as his popularity soared among Arsenal fans.
That was especially true as he stumped up big money to sanction the transfers of Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz in the summer of 2023.
David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino were signed at the beginning of this season.
But with Arsenal not winning a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, patience is beginning to wear thin.
An out-and-out striker is top of every fan’s wishlist – plus another winger and further defensive reinforcements.
But with no one brought into the Emirates so far in the January transfer window – and seemingly no deal close – the cries are getting louder.
And now one Arsenal fan made a stance by editing the Kroenke mural where he is pictured in a suit and red tie alongside Santi Cazorla.
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SunSport’s exclusive video footage before the Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb shows the hooded individual taking to the wall by spray-painting a speech bubble coming from Cazorla’s mouth and then writing inside it.
The text read: “Time to splash some cash, Josh.”
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST MOVES FROM THE JANUARY WINDOW
And that prompted a wave of comments from supporters on social media.
One wrote: “No signings = Kroenke out.”
Another said: “This is embarrassing.”
A third added: “Bring in both Sesko and Gyokores.”
A fourth typed: “What a stupid mural, who makes a mural for an owner?”
A fifth responded: “Josh Kroenke getting a mural outside the Emirates? Nice touch, but maybe paint a checkbook next time—because Arsenal needs players, not portraits!”
And a final user replied: “Fan base is a joke.”
EPAKroenke runs the club alongside dad Stan[/caption]
GettyHe helped oversee the £105m signing of Declan Rice in 2023[/caption]
GettyThe mural is one of a number on the wall[/caption]
Arsenal ratings vs Aston Villa
Arsenal’s title hopes took a huge hit as they threw away a two-goal lead against Aston Villa
Leandro Trossard turned provider for the Gunners to set up both goals as it looked like they would cruise to three points.
But defensive lapses from two stars cost Arteta’s side dearly.
Here is how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the players…
DAVID RAYA – 6/10
Let down by those in front of him for both goals, a duo of close range efforts he had no chance with.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 8
With performances like this, he is suddenly the first name on the team sheet for Arteta. So calm and composed for someone so young, and his strength against bigger opposition is scary at times.
GABRIEL – 7
Made a crucial tackle one-on-one with Watkins and another block from a speedy counter
JURRIEN TIMBER – 7
Alert to foil counters against the pace of Watkins and coped well in general. It is not his fault that he doesn’t have the defensive presence of Saliba.
THOMAS PARTEY – 6
A great stint at right back but one lapse in concentration cost Arsenal the lead, losing track of Watkins in the box before he volleyed in.
MIKEL MERINO – 6
A workman-like performance – won his duels and worked his socks off, but the small details were missing, shanking a good chance well wide in the first half.
He then lost his marker to allow Tielemans to head in and make it 2-1. Could have won it at the end with a scuffed effort in off Havertz that VAR chalked off and smacked the post too.
DECLAN RICE – 7
Integral to everything good about Arsenal and came close with a long-range punt in the second half.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 6
A solid display but he is really missing his partner in crime in Saka. He created as much as he could but sometimes needs to be more selfish to drag his team over the line.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 8
Deflected effort was comfortable for Martinez but his superb cross made life much harder for the Villa keeper to tee up Martinelli for the opener before blazing over himself.
The Belgian racked up his fifth Prem assist of the season in the second half for Havertz.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 8
Threatened at the far post early on, but got his rewards from the same position in the 35th minute with a stabbed effort ahead of Maatsen.
KAI HAVERTZ – 8
Again, lack of decent service left him living off scraps, but when he got a scrap he fired an effort straight at Martinez from close range.
The German more than made up for it after the break with a clinical finish, even if Martinez should have done better. That will do wonders for his confidence.
SUBS:
RAHEEM STERLING (MARTINELLI, 82) – 6
A few darting runs, but added virtually nothing, other than a needless yellow card. A cameo that screamed “lacking confidence”.
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