Stan Kroenke delivers Arsenal decision as transfer admission made

Arsenal made it four wins from five in the Premier League on Sunday thanks to a 1-0 win at Everton that put them within two points again of leaders Manchester City. The Gunners have made a strong start to life on the pitch in the last few weeks and there have been some developments off the pitch which will be of interest to fans too. Here is the latest.

Arteta on transfers

Arsenal spent big this summer in the form of over £200m on signing the likes of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya on loan, although Football London report there is a £27m buy option.

Havertz has had a mixed start to life at Arsenal and Timber suffered a potentially season-ending injury in his first game. Arteta has since touched on the uncertain nature of transfers in a statement that screams 'we need time' as he looks for the new players to bed in.

"We are all human beings and you know that one plus one isn’t always making two. In the end, it’s a bet. When buying a player, it’s a bet – and that bet can go wrong... because it’s a human," Arteta explained.

“You have to bring them from different countries, cultures and styles of play. Then they have to live and adapt within a different system and environment. Sometimes it takes time. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. I feel extremely responsible, especially when we’re demanding to buy players for huge amounts. You have to make sure we’ve done the work to make it happen. But sometimes it doesn’t.”

CEO change at Arsenal

Meanwhile, further up the hierarchy at Arsenal there have been developments at the CEO position. Vinai Venkatesham is leaving at the end of the season, ending a 14-year link with the club. Owner Stan Kroenke is now looking for a new CEO and The Sun report that the Gunners are short listing Ascot horse racing business guru Felicity Barnard for the role.

"Barnard worked for the Gunners in London and Singapore and was also at West Ham," the report said.

Barnard is the Deputy CEO and Commercial Director at Ascot and a non-executive director for Great British Racing.