Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke has disclosed a pivotal conversation with former academy director Per Mertesacker that set the club on a path to their first Premier League title in 22 years. Speaking after the 2019 Europa League final defeat to Chelsea, Kroenke asked how Arsenal could acquire a defender like Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, to which Mertesacker replied that unless the club had 100 million pounds, they should look elsewhere. When pressed for the best young defender in Europe, Mertesacker immediately named William Saliba.
Shift in Strategy
Kroenke explained that this conversation occurred during a low point for the club, just months before Unai Emery was sacked. Arsenal signed Saliba that summer but loaned him out for three seasons before Mikel Arteta integrated him into the first team. Saliba has since become one of the world's best centre-backs and a cornerstone of Arsenal's title-winning side.
Kroenke's Role in Transfers
The co-chair emphasised that he does not involve himself directly in transfers but seeks to understand the reasoning behind decisions. He recalled laughing to himself when Saliba initially struggled to break into the squad, hoping the youngster would succeed. Kroenke did not reveal his earlier conversation with Mertesacker to Arteta until much later, allowing the manager and his staff to make their own judgments.
Arsenal's patience with Saliba's development, including two loan spells at Saint-Etienne and Nice, ultimately paid off. The French defender's partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes has been instrumental in Arsenal's defensive solidity, helping them end their long wait for a league title.
