As summer break approaches and football fans start switching their attention to beach days and international fixtures, there’s a familiar cloud hovering over North London: Arsenal, once again, came painfully close, but not quite close enough.
For Mikel Arteta, it’s another season ending in second place.
And while he’s found the right words to rally the fans in the past, this year he added a subtle edge to his usual hopeful speech — a clear signal that he’s expecting more support from those higher up the food chain.
Arteta’s Subtle Message: “It’s Your Move, Boardroom”
Last season, Arteta charmed the Emirates crowd with an impassioned speech after their final game, applauding their belief and urging them to want more.
The club even polished it off with a black-and-white tribute video titled “Keep Believing.”
It felt like a turning point.
But now, after three back-to-back runner-up finishes — a pattern not seen since Arsenal themselves trailed behind Manchester United from 1999 to 2001 — Arteta seems to be sending a not-so-cryptic message to the Arsenal board.
Speaking to his players, he dropped this line: “Finish the season, go to the beach, enjoy a few days and make sure the ones upstairs do what they have to do.”
That last part? It wasn’t just locker-room talk. It was a gentle nudge — or perhaps a warning — aimed squarely at the club’s decision-makers.
Before You Complain, Look West — Way West
Here’s the twist: Arteta might want to tread carefully before sounding too impatient.
Arsenal’s owners aren’t the typical absentee landlords anymore — at least not with Josh Kroenke increasingly at the helm.
Over in Denver, Colorado, where Kroenke also oversees the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, he recently made one of the boldest moves in recent basketball memory: firing head coach Mike Malone and general manager Calvin Booth just three games before the playoffs.
That’s like sacking your manager before a Champions League semi-final.
Shocking, right?
Malone had just led the Nuggets to their first NBA title the year before and was considered a fan favorite.
But Kroenke wasn’t interested in sentiment.
He sensed dysfunction behind the scenes and acted — quickly and decisively.
A Different Kind of Boss
Kroenke’s post-firing press conference didn’t just justify the move — it gave us a glimpse of a man who genuinely understands sports and leadership.
He came off as composed, analytical, and deeply aware of how teams work.
Not bad for a so-called “owner’s son.”
Insiders say he’s nothing like the spoiled, disconnected stereotype.
He’s a former college basketball player with real insight into coaching dynamics, and he values unity within an organization — something that was clearly lacking between Malone and Booth.
Results Talk — And Kroenke’s Gamble Paid Off
After the firings, the Nuggets pulled together and scraped past the LA Clippers in a thrilling 7-game series.
Even without their coach, they pushed eventual favorites Oklahoma City Thunder to the brink in another 7-game battle.
The message? Kroenke doesn’t mind making tough calls, and sometimes, they work.
So when Arteta drops hints about the “ones upstairs,” he’s talking about someone who’s anything but passive.
Someone who expects results and knows when to make changes.
What Now for Arteta?
Let’s be clear: Josh Kroenke isn’t blind to Arsenal’s progress or their missed opportunity this year.
In his letter to fans, he acknowledged it bluntly: “We’ve fallen short.”
He also promised funds for the summer — something widely picked up in the press — but that promise comes with expectations.
And pundits like Graeme Souness are already warning: if Arteta doesn’t deliver, especially with a new striker in tow, his time might be up.
Arteta once claimed that 100 points might be needed to win the Premier League.
This season, even with a struggling Manchester City and a transitional Liverpool, he couldn’t even hit 75. That’s hard to ignore.
What’s in a Name? Everton Finds Out
Switching gears, let’s talk about Everton’s new stadium.
While some clubs are partnering with global giants like Emirates or Allianz, Everton has struck a deal with… Hill Dickinson, a local law firm.
The new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, perched on the edge of the Mersey, will now carry a name that fans have already lovingly (or mockingly) dubbed “Hickory Dickory Dock.”
Not exactly glamorous, but it keeps things local — and there’s something charming about that.
It may not roll off the tongue, but in an era of mega-corporate football, this feels refreshingly grounded.
Spurs’ Throwback Vibes
Meanwhile, across North London, Tottenham fans are reliving the 1980s — at least in spirit — by recording a new anthem for their Europa League final.
The track, “To Dare is to Do,” might not have the lyrical poetry of past football classics, but it carries the spirit of old Wembley finals.
Featuring the voice of the late, great John Motson and produced by Grammy-winning pros who’ve worked with the likes of Adele and Madonna, the song is a feel-good project.
Even better: proceeds go to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. A fitting gesture after a tough season.
Standing Ovation for the Shrimpers
Let’s wrap with a heartfelt shoutout to Southend United, a club whose fans have refused to give up — even when it looked like everything was falling apart.
After years of mismanagement under former owner Ron Martin, the club is now in the National League playoff semi-finals.
Their journey to Forest Green feels like a reward for fans who have stuck by them through thick and (very) thin.
To the likes of Liam Ager, Brenda Smith, Matt Slater, and countless others: your passion has kept the club alive.
Football’s heartbeat isn’t in the stadium names or the millions spent — it’s in fans like you.
What’s Next?
With the Premier League season wrapped up, the spotlight shifts to the summer — transfers, decisions, and dreams for the next campaign.
For Arteta, Kroenke, and Arsenal fans, the question is simple: can belief finally turn into glory?
Time will tell.