Stan and Josh Kroenke have had majority control of Arsenal since 2018. Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke says behind-closed-doors football during the Covid-19 pandemic allowed manager Mikel Arteta "space" to help revive the "sleeping giant".

The Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) group took full control of Arsenal in 2018 but it has not always been easy, with fan protests at how the club was being run taking place during their tenure. The Kroenkes hired Arteta in 2019, giving the former Arsenal player his first senior managerial role after a period of uncertainty at the club.

It took time for that vision to take hold with two eighth-placed finishes, despite a 2020 FA Cup win, leading to some questioning whether Arteta was the right man for the job. But now the Spaniard has transformed the club after six-and-a-half years in charge and has led the Gunners to their first Premier League title in 22 years.

And in a wide-ranging interview, Kroenke talked about:

• How the pandemic meant that Arteta had time without fan pressure
• The Gunners' summer plans to strengthen to "stay top of the mountain"
• The sleeping giant of Arsenal
• Being on his hands and knees watching the video assistant referee decision against West Ham
• How the culture has changed at the club

Giving a manager their first senior job in football is always a risk, but Kroenke says Arteta's character made it clear that he was the right candidate to succeed Unai Emery in December 2019.