Stan and Josh Kroenke have outlined a vision for Arsenal to extend over generations of their family and reaffirmed their emphatic support for Arsene Wenger by explaining why they took the “harder” decision to extend his contract.

Ahead of Thursday’s annual general meeting at the Emirates, father and son sat down together for almost two hours for their first joint interview since Stan became majority shareholder in 2011 and Josh became a director two years later.

In it, they:

Rejected suggestions that they were in football for the money and vowed not to sell.

Described Wenger as more focussed than ever.

Explained how winning both the Premier League and Champions League was feasible.

Promised to protect Arsenal’s traditions and history.

Outlined a determination to keep Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

Described “rabid” and “wonderful” fans as both the best and worst thing about owning a sports team.

The Kroenkes will on Thursday face shareholders after a rollercoaster year that has encompassed heated fan unrest, fevered debate about Wenger’s ongoing position as manager and the future of key players but also an unprecedented 13th FA Cup win and a new club record signing in Alexandre Lacazette. One rumour that they would like to squash is that the family’s 67 per cent shareholding is attainable. A £1 billion bid from Alisher Usmanov, who himself owns 30 per cent, was immediately rejected earlier this year and it is understood that there have been no further offers since. “Just go look at our history,” said Kroenke Snr. “We get into these things to try to grow them .You don’t see us selling things. You just don’t. We are committed long-term.”