Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has hinted that Gunners owner Stan Kroenke could ease the pressure on his shoulders by ensuring the club improves its results on the pitch.
Ahead of the Gunners' Premier League defeat to Everton last night, thousands of the club's supporters gathered outside the Emirates Stadium to stage a protest against the American businessman after the Gunners controversially joined the European Super League last weekend.
The Gunners, one of six English clubs to make up the 12 founding members of the new mid-week tournament, were, however, forced to withdraw because of pressure from the supporters in a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday evening.
All six English clubs confirmed their sudden exits from the tournament after clubs not involved, supporters and pundits all condemned the six clubs' decisions to get involved.
Although Arsenal have now backed down and issued an apology to the supporters, Kroenke is under enormous pressure to sell the club and allow someone with a fresh set of eyes to oversee its future.
With the pressing growing and growing, former Gunners man Campbell has suggested that the club needs to start improving its fortunes on the pitch, but that, of course, only seems likely if Kroenke puts his hands in his pockets and supports manager Mikel Arteta in this summer's upcoming transfer window.
“Success on the pitch means so much to any football club, especially Arsenal with the history they have," Campbell told Sky Sports.
"Now, if you’re the Kroenke's and you’re under this much pressure, the best way to try and appease the fans is to get results on the pitch."
On Kroenke's decision to put Arsenal forward to join the Super League, Campbell admitted that he was not surprised by the move, suggesting, however, that it could prove to be the final straw for the American.
Campbell continued: "Was I surprised? No. I was disappointed because I’m a traditionalist, I’m a fan of the football club, I feel what those fans feel.
"It was the way it was done, and it had total disregard for the fan base. I can imagine there’s a lot of boiling tempers down there. Stan Kroenke has the form of not having a feeling towards a football club and I think that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, it’s very difficult for Arsenal fans not to vent their anger.
"Well, I don’t think it is because billionaire owners don’t tend to do what the fanbase wants but considering what’s going on, it’s going to be a bit uneasy for them."
