Peter Hill-Wood

What a difference four years makes. In 2007, here’s what Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said about Stan Kroenke and the American’s desire to take over Arsenal:

“[The boardmembers have] no intention of selling to some stranger” and would be “horrified to see the club go across the Atlantic.”

“These [boardmembers] love Arsenal, they don’t need the money and they have no interest in selling,” Hill-Wood said. “The club has been run for the benefit of supporters, staff and players, and the shareholders would prefer to stay in control than sell out to some stranger without the years of support they have.”

And here’s what Hill-Wood said today:

“Mr Kroenke, although relatively new to Arsenal, has shown himself to be a man who values and respects the history and traditions of this very special Club that we cherish. We are confident that he will be a safe custodian of its future.”

Is it a case of money talks, or just Hill-Wood taking time to better understand Kroenke’s intentions?