Arsenal owner Josh Kroenke was forced to issue apology to fans after major backlash

The Arsenal co-owner has proven that is not afraid to face fans when the going gets tough

Arsenal will face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, with Josh Kroenke expected to be in attendance. Josh, 45, is the son of Stan Kroenke, whose Kroenke Sports and Entertainment group (KSE) became the sole operator of Arsenal in August 2018.

Having been co-owners since 2007, Stan later bought Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s 30 per cent shareholding for over £600m, ending a long saga for ultimate control of Arsenal. That took the Kroenke's total stake to 97 per cent.

Josh also serves as president of MLS side, Colorado Rapids, and, as with his time with the Gunners, he has not been afraid to address supporters when the going gets tough, positioning himself as a mediator between fans and the board.

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The Denver Nuggets governor found himself in the firing line in September 2023 when the Centennial 38 fan group of the Rapids took aim at the Kroenkes in an open letter following a rough time for the MLS club on and off the pitch. Supporters did not mince their words as they identified a plethora of problems, lamenting KSE in the process.

They identified a lack of investment in the team and facilities as a major cause. On top of this, they also accused KSE of under-par engagement with supporters and shared their dismay at the state of the Rapids' DICK'S Sporting Goods Park stadium.

Josh came out swinging in response. He said: "Off the field, we have already engaged Legends, Civitas, Perkins & Will, and Turner Construction on a number of feasibility studies and analyses around potential infrastructure projects as we assess a future vision for DICK'S Sporting Goods Park and the Club's training environment.

"We are also actively evaluating additional ways to enhance the gameday experience inside and outside the stadium. Over the next few months, we will be finalising the master plan for our exciting Victory Crossing Project.

"Our supporters will always be the lifeblood of our club. We hear you and we look forward to having an ongoing dialogue with Centennial 38 over their concerns and our plans for the future."

Josh's open dialogue with Rapids fans will stir memories for Arsenal fans. After 16 Gunners supporter groups signed a letter and launched a petition urging the ownership to demonstrate more commitment and leadership in 2019, it was Kroenke Jr who spoke out.

Josh addressed supporters directly once again, altering Arsenal's course over the next five years. "Is it hard to take? Absolutely," Josh said of the letter.

"But I’m not in this business to make friends, I’m in it to win. If anyone is ever going to question anything about our ownership, which I view as a custodianship, the supporters trust us to be a custodian of the values — that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to win whilst also respecting the values and traditions of the club.

“I’ve sat down with supporters’ groups. I’ve not been afraid to sit down to have tough conversations with people because I’m transparent, we’re transparent, we don’t have anything to hide. We all want the same thing and we’re all trying aggressively to make it happen."

The Kroenkes did make it happen. The club underwent a transfer splurge in the summer of 2025 that could have set Mikel Arteta's side on course for a historic season.

Arsenal are top of the Premier League and into the Champions League and FA Cup quarter-finals. Should they triumph over Pep Guardiola’s team in the League Cup final on Sunday, it could very well be the first trophy of a stunning quadruple this season.