ARSENAL got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory to relegate West Brom.
Off the pitch, Daniel Ek and his consortium have held a meeting with the Arsenal Supporters Trust as the Spotify founder steps up his takeover bid.
However, the Kroenke family are reportedly planning a huge summer of spending on transfers as they look to get angry Gunners fans on side.
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Stay up to date with every twist and turn from North London in our live blog…
TOP GUNNER
Bukayo Saka was Arsenal’s ‘best player by a mile’ in Sunday’s win over West Brom, according to Joe Cole.
The versatile England ace, 20, was moved to left-back for the visit of the Baggies on Sunday evening having spent much of the season in a more attacking role.
And Saka put in another supreme performance, including an assist for the first goal, as Arsenal eventually edged past West Brom 3-1.
The winger will now be hoping to end the season strongly as he aims to cement his spot in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for this summer’s delayed European Championship.
Saka’s strong showing at the Emirates won’t have hurt his chances either, with ex-England midfielder Cole raving about him. After the game, Cole told BT Sport: “[Saka] was excellent.
“He was a thorn in [West Brom’s] side. His movement was fantastic. He’s so direct, he drives into areas and picks passes out all the time. He was Arsenal’s best player by a mile.”
STAT ATTACK
Arsenal’s seven shots on target tonight is the second-most they’ve managed in a Premier League match this season.
The most? The 12 they registered in the 4-0 win at West Brom in January.
They’re going to miss playing them.
FT: ARSENAL 3-1 WEST BROM
West Brom are beaten in London, and their immediate return to the Championship is confirmed.
Albion gave it a go in the second half, and Matheus Pereira halved the half-time deficit with a superb solo goal, but Willian’s free-kick in the final minute – his first Arsenal goal – condemned the Baggies to the drop.
ARSENAL 3-1 WBA
90. He’s done it! Willian has his first goal in an Arsenal shirt!
The Brazilian won the free-kick with that burst of pace and piece of trickery, and made it clear that he wanted to take it too. For once, he didn’t disappoint.
Central and 25 yards from goal, the forward curled a beauty over the wall and into the top left corner beyond Sam Johnstone.
ARSENAL 2-1 WBA
67. Against the run of play, Mattheus Pereira pulls one back for West Brom in sensational style.
The Albion forward picks the ball up inside his own half, and runs and runs and runs and runs without challenge.
When an Arsenal player finally approaches the forward, he unleashes a peach of a low, left-footed drive into the bottom corner past the outstretched arm of Bernd Leno.
Maybe West Brom are still alive in the Premier League.
SOU-PER MAN
Yves Bissouma has reportedly requested to leave Brighton at the end of the season – amid intense interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Bissouma joined the Seagulls from Lille in 2018 for a fee that could rise to £15.7million with add-ons. The 24-year-old has shone bright this season proving he is one of the Premier League’s most talented box-to-box midfielders.
The Mali international’s impressive performances at the Amex Stadium have caught the eye of Arsenal, Liverpool and City. According to the Sunday Times, Bissouma has asked to be allowed to leave Brighton, who rate him at £40m.
That development paves the way for an intense bidding war between three of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
Liverpool are reportedly most interested in the midfielder as manager Jurgen Klopp has been ‘personally researching’ his character as well as off-field behaviour to make sure he is the right fit for the Reds.
In fact, Klopp sees him as a potential successor to Georginio Wijnaldum, who looks set to exit Anfield on a free transfer once his contract expires in June.
HT: ARSENAL 2-0 WEST BROM
Arsenal lead by two at the break courtesy of Emile Smith Rowe’s first Premier League goal and a thunderbolt from Nicolas Pepe.
The Gunners have grown to impress, but the match perhaps sums up West Brom’s season.
Albion started well, spurned some chances, and then fell apart. In 45 minutes, they will be relegated unless they can find a way back into this one.
ARSENAL 2-0 WBA
35. Brilliant from Nicolas Pepe!
The Ivorian takes Callum Chambers’ pass in his path on the left, and when nobody comes to challenge him, he skips inside on to his left foot and powers a shot into the far corner from just inside the box.
Superb stuff from Arsenal’s record signing, but again it’s dubious defending from Albion.
ARSENAL 1-0 WBA
29. A first Premier League goal for Emile Smith Rowe!
Arsenal had just begun to turn the screw, and have their youngsters to thank for breaking the deadlock.
Bukaya Sako again gets beyond a this-time static Albion defence, and pulls a lovely low cross back for Smith Rowe to meet at the near post with a left-footed volley.
KICK-OFF!
Arsenal 0 – 0 West Brom
The teams are off and underway at the Emirates.
To follow our LIVE match blog for kick-by-kick action click HERE.
GUNNERS GET READY
The players are out and warming up ahead of Arsenal’s 7pm kick-off against West Brom.
Mikel Arteta’s side need a win to keep their European hopes alive while the Baggies must win if they are to stand any chance of staying up.
TEAM NEWS IS IN!
Here’s how the teams line-up for Arsenal vs West Brom at the Emirates tonight.
7pm kick-off.
ARSENAL IN DA HOUSE
The Gunners have arrived at the Emirates ahead of tonight’s game against West Brom.
Kick-off at 7pm in North London.
DOWN THE STAN
Stan Kroenke’s offer to pay their Uefa fine from his own pocket could leave Arsenal with LESS money to spend this summer.
Kroenke, along with his fellow American owners at Liverpool and Manchester United, promised to meet the initial £1.44million European Super League fine – plus five per cent of the club’s next season of European cash earnings – from his personal funds.
But finance specialists warned such payments would be deemed as “owner funding” in Financial Fair Play calculations.
One expert explained: “If Kroenke pays from his own funds, that is deemed an owner expense.
“It means Arsenal’s next income will be reduced and will have an impact on the amount they are allowed to spend on players.
“While the Arsenal fans may be welcoming his decision now, they might not be so impressed if they discover they will have less to spend on players as a direct result.”
CHEERS TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Arsenal Women secured Champions League football for next season with a 0-0 draw against WSL strugglers Aston Villa this afternoon.
The North Londoners ended up third in the WSL behind second placed Man City and champions Chelsea who retained the title.
SAKA’S BEAUTY
The last time Arsenal faced West Brom they hammered them 4-0 at the Hawthorns.
The match is fondly remembered for this beautiful move from the Gunners, finished off by Bukayo Saka.
ERGING FOR ACTION
Arsenal will have to cough up £35million for Sheffield United ace Sander Berge as manager Mikel Arteta calls on the board to splash the cash this summer.
The Gunners have endured yet another torrid season that could see them missing out on European qualification for the first time in 25 years following Thursday’s Europa League elimination to Unai Emery’s Villarreal.
Arteta is looking to bolster his midfield ahead of next season and Berge appears to be among his top summer targets, even though the Norway international endured a rough campaign marred by injury.
According to Yorkshire Live, Berge is rated at a cut-price £35m due to a relegation clause in his contract with the Blades who will playing in the Championship next season, dropping his original asking price of £45m.
This comes after the north Londoners’ manager urged the club’s hierarchy to spend big in the summer in order to put an end to the ongoing downward spiral.
Credit: AP TOFFEE TWOSOME
Everton are lining up moves for Juventus keeper Wojciech Szczesny and Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, according to reports.
Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti is almost certainly set to try and bolster his squad in the summer.
And according to Calcio Mercato, Juventus are hoping to offload 31-year-old Szczesny.
Everton are one of the clubs that have been linked with the Pole, who spent six years at Arsenal between 2009 and 2015.
Chelsea are also said to be a possible suitor for the ex-Gunners shot-stopper despite already having both Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga on their books.
Another player who Everton are looking at according to The Mirror is Fulham midfielder Anguissa.
The Cameroon international has been ever-present for Scott Parker’s side this season, playing in 30 of their 34 Premier League games.
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
The team news for Arsenal’s final WSL match against Aston Villa is in.
Kick-off is at 2:30pm.
BISSOUMA HANDS IN REQUEST
Brighton’s Yves Bissouma has handed in a transfer request, according to the Sunday Times.
The midfielder, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, has been in excellent form this season – making 32 Premier League appearances.
The 24-year-old is believed to be keen on playing Champions League football, which may hamper Arsenal’s chances.
He is expected to cost around £30million.
PAUL ONUACHU LATEST
Genk’s goal machine Paul Onuachu reportedly hopes to end up an Arsenal player by the end of the summer.
The 6ft 7in forward has been a revelation at the Belgian club, smashing home an incredible 32 goals in 37 games in all competitions this season.
Voetbal Belgie reports the 26-year-old is eyeing up a move to the Emirates and is optimistic he could land a dream Prem move by the end of the upcoming transfer window.
The Nigerian forward is contracted until 2024 and is believed to have a market value of around £15million.
Genk are hoping to cash in around £25m for his services after his sensational goalscoring form.
JILL ROORD LATEST
Jill Roord is being heavily linked with a summer move to Wolfsburg from Arsenal.
The German outfit are thought to be keen on adding the Netherlands midfielder to their ranks and have refused to rule out a move for her, according to Sports Buzzer.
When asked about Roord the club’s sporting director Ralf Kellermann remained tight-lipped.
He said: “We will not comment on transfer rumors in the week before the important game against Bayern.”
Wolfsburg are looking to strengthen their squad after being knocked out of the Women’s Champions League by Chelsea in the contest’s quarter-finals.
The two clubs have done business previously with the Gunners selling Dominique Janssen to Wolfsburg in 2019.
ACHRAF HAKIMI LATEST
Bayern Munich are reportedly ready to join the race for Achraf Hakimi amid interest from Arsenal.
The right-back, 22, has been a key part of Inter Milan’s Serie A title triumph but could still leave the club.
Arsenal and Chelsea had both been credited with interest in recent months.
In particular, the Gunners may be seeking a replacement for Hector Bellerin amid reports linking him with Paris Saint-Germain.
But Bundesliga giants Bayern are also on the lookout ahead of Julian Nagelsmann’s arrival.
According to German football reporter Manuel Bonke, the Bavarians are targeting Hakimi although the transfer fee could be a big stumbling block.
The defender is seen as someone who would fit the incoming coach’s system perfectly, with current starter Benjamin Pavard a more defensive right-back.
KT IS BACK
Kieran Tierney is likely to start for the Gunners against West Brom today.
The last time he played against the Baggies was when Arsenal hammered them 4-0 at the Hawthorns in January.
That match is remembered for this superb strike from Tierney – and Mikel Arteta, desperate to finish the season strongly, will be hoping for another masterclass today.
ICYMI – DWIGHT FIGHT
Aston Villa are ready to launch a £15million bid for Burnley ace Dwight McNeil, according to reports.
The talented winger has been admired by Manchester United and Arsenal in the past.
But Dean Smith wants to take him to the West Midlands.
According to Football Insider, McNeil is one of Villa’s ‘top targets’ for the summer.
And they think that £15m could be enough to convince Burnley to sell.
The Clarets, however, agreed a contract extension with McNeil last October, currently tying him to Sean Dyche’s side until June 2024.
And Burnley are believed to have an option to trigger an extra year.
Credit: AP
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
