Arsenal chief Stan Kroenke: why sacking Arsene Wenger would have been the EASY

Speaking exclusively on the eve of the Gunners’ AGM, the US businessman insists their manager of 21 years remains the “right guy” for the job.

Stan Kroenke has insisted Arsenal took the harder decision in standing by Arsene Wenger.

Majority shareholder Kroenke claimed it is “easy to change coaches”, but says manager Wenger remains the “right guy” and is “more focused” than ever on winning major trophies.

The 68-year-old Frenchman, who has been in charge since 1996, came under severe pressure last season amid a fierce fan backlash. But Arsenal stood firm and gave the Frenchman a new two-year contract after he won the FA Cup for a third time in four seasons.

Kroenke, in a rare exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror before the club’s AGM on Thursday, said: “Arsene is strong, he’s focused and I think he showed through all that.

“We always evaluate, and it’s fair to look at all the factors involved. But when you make decisions like that, you are weighing lots of different factors, but you hope that you weigh them correctly and come out with the right decision. I think we did.

“It’s easy to change coaches and people do it all the time. But the hardest thing is to replicate success and remain competitive.

“You have to approach it with clear-headedness, calmness, thinking for the long term rather than the short-term. An easy answer is it’s easy to do something. It’s harder not to do something.

“Arsenal is a great club – it’s been here for 130 years. We talked earlier about what a great club it is.

“When you have someone that passionate, when you get one who has really demonstrated that level of excellence – a good character – do you say: ‘Hey, we should get rid of him or we should make a change’?

“They have truly demonstrated a level of excellent throughout many many periods of ups and downs – because there are always going to be them. This is competing at an extremely high level.

“I think both sides have to get comfortable as they move forward. It takes both sides, not just us.

“I’m sure he was thinking through if he wants to go on. If I see anything, then I think he is more focused than ever – when I’m around him. Focused on winning. I really think I do see that more than ever. He wants to win these things.

“He’s really focused and really smart, he wants to win the things we are talking about.

“We have dealt with this a lot in different organisations and we just think that Arsene is doing a great job and he’s the right guy.

“We have a lot of respect for Arsene — we are not going to be pushy about things. I think he treated us with respect as well and always has.

“We feel really strongly about Arsene.”

Arsenal director Josh Kroenke, Stan’s son, added: “I think it speaks volumes as to who Arsene is as a manager.

“Obviously there was some adversity the club was facing at different points.

“But, coming down the stretch, when there was an extreme amount of adversity from an external standpoint, on the players, on the club, on Arsene, the group came together and really rallied down the stretch not only for themselves but for Arsene.

“I think three out of four FA Cups is pretty darn good.”