Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke looks to have stayed true to his word as the Emirates Stadium seemingly begins renovation. A video on Twitter has surfaced showing building work outside the ground ahead of the Gunners' clash with Leicester City this weekend.
Earlier in the year, chief executive Vinai Venkatesham confirmed that the club plan to refurbish the venue in a bid to avoid similar problems that Manchester United have suffered with Old Trafford.
Speaking at an Arsenal fans' forum, as quoted by Twitter user @Peterhoest who was able to transcribe quotes from the event, Venkatesham said: "We continue the program on investing in the stadium. We’re on track to replace the big screens, and the work on the roof has begun. We’re also working on how to speed up access to the stadium."
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The Emirates Stadium finished construction 16 years ago following the north Londoners' move from Highbury in 2006. With water under the bridge and Mikel Arteta steering the club in the right direction, the ground is set to receive a 'multi-million-pound' investment, according to The Telegraph.
Arsenal's decision to renovate the venue follows Tottenham Hotspurs' expansion and opening of a 62,000-seat ground in 2019, making the Emirates no longer the biggest stadium in London. The decision to increase the capacity also follows huge losses suffered during the Covid pandemic.
The Gunners played 31 home matches during the year ending May 31, 2021, but, according to TheStadiumBusiness, only two of these fixtures had fans present. And, as a result, the club’s match-day revenue fell by an eye-watering £75million to just £3.8million.
While the renovation will unlikely recoup Arsenal's 'losses', the decision fuels the club's steady return to top-flight European football. The Gunners missed out on Champions League qualification to Spurs last season and, with the competition in Arteta's sights, a new ground stands the club in good stead.
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