SPOTIFY CEO Daniel Ek says he has secured the funds to take over Arsenal from unpopular owners the Kroenke family.
And he says he is prepared for his takeover bid to be a long journey if the Americans are not keen to sell immediately.
Meanwhile the Gunners – who face Villarreal in the Europa League tonight – have reportedly put Alexandre Lacazette and Hector Bellerin up for sale as they look to raise £120m for new signings.
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WALC THIS WAY
A stunning finish from former Arsenal star Theo Walcott on the last time the Gunners faced tonight’s opposition.
FORCE OF NATURE
Simon Jordan has expressed his doubt that Daniel Ek will convince the ‘Darth Vader of English football’ into selling Arsenal.
He told talkSPORT: “Daniel Ek can’t lose this conversation because the awareness of him as an individual has accelerated ten fold over the last week.
“He’s chosen to start that fire. There is a lack of dignity because it’s a shameless grab of awareness.
“He can write a cheque to Stan Kroenke. Stan Kroenke is not going to buckle to public pressure.
“If you think Stan Kroenke is going to take a billion less because x amount of fans in London are screaming at him then you’re dafter than you look.
“He is only going to take one deal, which is the deal he’s prepared to take.
“If Daniel Ek is a media guy, the one thing he’s going to use is the media. It’s interesting to say it’s a long game.
“He can’t lose because he’s always got this dark force, the Darth Vader of English football Stan Kroenke that’s going to sit there, say nothing and send his son out to do his dirty deeds for him.
“So with the greatest will in the world, it’s an interesting play, I just can’t see it [happening].
“I don’t think it’s a play that happens and not at £1.8bn, which is what he’s currently offering.
“I’ll tell you what compelling is, when Stan Kroenke tells you it’s compelling, not when someone who wants to buy the football club tells you it’s compelling.”
REINFORCEMENTS AT THE BACK
Arsenal could sign both a centre-back and right back this summer, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
He reports Hector Bellerin could leave the club in the summer and a replacement for the Spanish right-back would be needed.
And the Gunners are also said to be poised to add a central defender to the squad.
Brazilian veteran David Luiz could also leave, freeing up the former Chelsea man’s spot in Mikel Arteta’s playing strength.
JOURNEY SO FAR
Remind yourself how Arsenal got to the Europa League semi-final where they face Villarreal tonight.
REAL DEAL
Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze is dreaming of winning the Europa League and revealed he isn’t scared of Arsenal ahead of tonight’s semi-final first leg.
LaLiga ambassador Chukwueze, speaking at an event for LiveScore, said: “When the time comes, it will be up to the coach and the tactics he chooses – all I need to do is just enter the field using the skills I have practiced and give everything I have.
“We are going to play our football as normal. We are not scared or anything, we are just going to play our football as a team.
“I’d like you to tell me that I am going to win the Europa League, just tell me that! I want to win the Europa League, thanks!”
CHANGE OF LUC
Lucas Torreira will not play for Arsenal this year, according to his father.
The midfielder is on loan at Atletico Madrid but has made multiple impassioned pleas to be allowed to join boyhood sign Boca Juniors.
The Uruguayan wants to return to South America to be closer to his family after the death of his mother from Covid-19.
Dad Ricardo told TNT Sports: “I do not think Lucas will play for Arsenal this year. If it’s not Boca, his destiny will be Italy or France.
“We are left with the desire, instead of generating joy we generate an inconvenience to Boca’s leadership.”
Credit: AFP IN WITH THE OLD
Arsenal face Villarreal and Mikel Arteta goes head to head with his predecessor Unai Emery in the Europa League tonight.
How Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta compared after 50 Premier League games HARSH WINTER
Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn claimed it is the young players propping up Mikel Arteta’s flops and the boss would be lost without them.
Winterburn told Bookmakers.co.uk: “Points wise they’re not a million miles off but the performances suggest, to me, that we’re still way short of the mark.
“We still don’t know who our best centre-half pairing is, the right-back position looks as though it will need to be filled, we don’t know about the futures of [Martin] Odegaard and [Dani] Ceballos.
“And then there’s [Alexandre] Lacazette closing in on the end of his contract, [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang has had a poor season.
“Really, when you look at it, the young players have kept everything going this season as far as I’m concerned.
“The young players coming through and performing to a high level have enabled the fans to be slightly more patient than they would be under normal circumstances.”
SPAIN AGAIN
Arsenal have tasted success in Spain before…
Tonight the Gunners face Villarreal in the Europa League semi-final first leg.
ROUD AWAKENING
Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is reportedly set to depart Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer as he is reluctant to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge.
The 34-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and while the Blues would be open to extending his stay, the striker is claimed to be close to departing.
According to Goal, the French World Cup winner is unlikely to sign a new deal in West London after falling down the pecking order.
Giroud – who has started just eight Premier League matches this term – has played just once in the top-flight since the 0-0 draw against Manchester United in February.
And it has been said that the ex-Gunners ace is considering his options regarding his next club as he looks for regular game time.
Credit: Reuters FEEL THE BURN
Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn says the Gunners are unrecognisable amid a turgid season on the pitch.
Mikel Arteta’s men have the chance to take something from their campaign and face old manager Unai Emery’s Villarreal in the Europa League semi-final tonight.
Winterburn told Bookmakers.co.uk: “They’re going to have to make a few more changes to the squad. How much they’ll do, I don’t know.
“If I’m honest with you, I think there’s still a huge amount of questions to be asked about the team and Mikel Arteta would probably say so himself if he was asked at the end of the season.
“There are times when you see glimpses of how good Arsenal can be, and then there are times when you feel as though it’s just not the club we all recognise.
“The levels can vary from week to week and that inconsistency is a big problem for me. Until they find a solution, Arsenal are going to struggle to get back into the top four.”
Credit: Getty – Contributor LES MISERABLES
Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger slammed ‘stupid’ PSG’s ‘mental collapse’ after Man City turned things around to win the Champions League semi-final first leg 2-1.
CROWN JUL
Arsenal are ready to pursue a bargain £17.5million deal to land Borussia Dortmund ace Julian Brandt, according to reports.
The Gunners are in the market for a creative midfielder this summer with Martin Odegaard heading back to Real Madrid.
Boss Mikel Arteta has been told by Zinedine Zidane that they will not entertain any offers of extending Odegaard’s stay in North London.
The Norwegian is seen as fundamental to Zidane’s plans and wants him to compete in midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
Arteta is being forced to look elsewhere and a deal for Brandt fits the bill.
Bild write how Dortmund are willing to accept just £17.5m for the 24-year-old following a difficult season in the Bundesliga.
Brandt has been on the edges of the first team with two goals in 16 league starts.
U N AI GO WELL TOGETHER
Robert Pires believes Unai Emery gives Villarreal the edge over Arsenal in the Europa League semi-finals.
That’s despite the Gunners sacking him in 2019 in favour of current boss Mikel Arteta. Pires feels Emery’s three Europa League crowns with Sevilla from 2013-2016 gives him vital pedigree.
And French 1998 World Cup winner Pires told AS: “I have been lucky enough to play for two great teams, such as Arsenal and Villarreal.
“Seeing them now face each other in a semi-final is something special. I see the situation at Arsenal with sadness.
I speak with Arteta and I see that it has not been an easy year. What can save them is to win this Europa League and thus play the Champions League next year.
“It is difficult to give a favourite for the semi-final. I would say it is 50-50. It is difficult to get it right. I think Villarreal has an advantage because they have Emery, a coach who has done very well in that competition.
“What I like the most is that it is a team that has a clear idea, that they like to play good football.
“Everyone knows that if you go to see Villarreal, you are going to see a good team, a team with very good players and that it will surely complicate things for Arsenal.”
MORNING, ARSENAL FANS
Gunners fans have been getting excited about Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s potential takeover in North London.
And the Swede, 38, has reaffirmed his desire to buy his boyhood club.
He told CNBC yesterday: “I’ve been an Arsenal fan since I was eight-years-old.
“Arsenal is my team. I love the history, I love the players and of course, I love the fans.
“So, as I look at that, I see a tremendous opportunity to set a real vision for the club, to bring it back to its glory.
“I want to establish trust with the fans, and I want to engage the fans again.”
Ek then added: “I’m very serious, I have secured the funds for it and I want to bring a very compelling offer to the owners and I hope they hear me out.
“I certainly didn’t expect this will happen overnight and I prepared for this to be a long journey.”
On the pitch, however, the Gunners have an important game to focus on this evening, as they lock horns with old boss Unai Emery and Villarreal in their Europa League semi-final first-leg.
Should Arsenal win, they could play in front of a 10,000 crowd in Gdansk, Poland on May 26 – potentially against Manchester United.
ICYMI – BLOOMIN’ EK!
Prospective Arsenal buyer Daniel Ek has been speaking to CNBC about his potential Gunners takeover.
The Swede, 38, said: “I’m very serious, I have secured the funds for it and I want to bring a very compelling offer to the owners and I hope they hear me out.
“I certainly didn’t expect this will happen overnight and I prepared for this to be a long journey.”
Daniel Ek is ‘very serious’ about buying Arsenal ICYMI – EUR KIDDING ME
Arsenal and Manchester United have been told they will play in front of a 10,000 crowd if they reach next month’s Europa League Final.
But fans of the two Prem sides are unlikely to be allowed to travel to Poland – with local supporters set to be the only people allowed through the gates.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced a series of new measures as the country emerges from the Covid crisis.
That includes outdoor sports stadiums being able to open their turnstiles to up 25 per cent of capacities from May 15.
The Europa League Final is scheduled for the Stadion Miejski in Gdansk on May 26.
It is the home ground of Lechia Gdansk and has an all-seater capacity of 41,620. That will allow potentially 10,405 fans inside for the Final.
MORE FROM MARI
Arsenal defender Pablo Mari has had his say on Villarreal, ahead of his side’s Europa League semi-final first leg clash with the Spaniards tomorrow night.
He told the Gunners’ official website: “I have to say that Villarreal is a big club, the owners are doing the right things over the past couple of years.
“They took a really good decisions for the club, they have a really strong academy and use it a lot for the young players, they are doing really well with this kind of thing and you can see it that they are growing the club.
“I am really glad because they are doing the right things and you can see that they are playing for a semi-final in the Europa League and that tells you they are doing good things.”
Pablo Mari is excited for tomorrow night’s clash VILL YOUR BOOTS
Tomorrow’s Europa League semi-final first leg will be a special occasion for boyhood Villarreal fan Pablo Mari.
He told Arsenal’s official website: “Of course, I grow up in Valencia and supported Villarreal and Valencia.
“Of course they are the two teams in my city, every time when I was looking they beat Villarreal, I remember a lot of games I watched them and you think, ‘I want one time to play for them.’
“You grow up with that dream. Now I am in the moment where I am going to play against them in a semi-final of the Europa League.
“I am really glad to be here to fight for Arsenal in that semi-final and I am really happy and it’s going to be really special for me against Villarreal.”
Pablo Mari is getting ready for a special occasionCredit: Getty I WANT CHU
Genk striker Paul Onuachu revealed signing for Arsenal would be a ‘dream’.
And the 6ft 7in forward’s club admitted they may have to sell their star asset this summer.
Onuachu, 26, has attracted plenty of interest with his red-hot form since arriving in Belgium from Danish side Midtjylland, where he famously scored the winner against Manchester United.
He admitted he is desperate to catch the eye of his beloved Gunners.
The 11-cap Nigeria international recently labelled the Emirates as his ‘dream destination’ and longs to follow in the footsteps of his idols representing the club.
And in another interview, Onuachu told Sporza: “I really like Arsenal. Emmanuel Adebayor, one of the players I admired most, played there.
“I really was a fan of him, including Nwankwo Kanu. I really love watching Arsenal too.”
Genk striker Paul Onuachu is hoping his impressive season will catch the eye of Arsenal RISKY BUSINESS
Mikel Arteta has revealed whether he will be willing to ‘risk’ returning stars Kieran Tierney and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tomorrow night against Villarreal.
He said: “We do need them, because we know that we have some players that are in contention and they are the ones who can make the difference in a big tie like this.
“But the word risk, I don’t like to put players on the pitch if they can’t perform and they can’t feel secure that they can perform.
“If it’s a risk or we’re going to take a gamble, then I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kieran Tierney are both nearing first-team returnsCredit: AFP
TOP TIER
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has given an update on full-back Kieran Tierney, following the news that the Scot is nearing full fitness.
The Spaniard, 38, said: “He didn’t need the surgery that we were afraid of at the beginning and then he’s been working like a beast every single day.
“I don’t know if he’s going to make it tomorrow [against Villarreal] but he certainly wants to be as close as possible to that football pitch to give himself the best possible chance.”
Kieran Tierney is approaching full fitnessCredit: Getty TEAM NEWS
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has given fans a positive update ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Villarreal.
He said: “They are all in contention. All of them.
“Including Aubameyang, Laca and Kieran. They are all in contention for the game. Yes [it is good news].”
Mikel Arteta has given fans a positive fitness updateCredit: Getty NAI REGRETS
Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery has insisted that he has no regrets over his time in North London.
He said: “We all have our pride and internal ego but because of my experiences with PSG, Arsenal, Sevilla and Valencia I have learned how to manage all the emotional moments that come with the position of coach.
“My time at Arsenal is behind me but I always keep a piece of my heart for all the teams I have played for or managed.
“I will always be grateful to Arsenal and just remember the good stuff which allowed me to grow and gave me a lot of experience to use at Villarreal.
“Everyone knows Arsenal is a great club and Mikel Arteta is a great manager, so it’s a perfect marriage.
“I think he should build on the improvements that I tried to work on but wasn’t allowed to continue.
“Arsenal should be fighting for Champions League spots so they need to trust Arteta and have patience to execute a game plan because with patience and confidence they will make it.”
Unai Emery was axed in November 2019 CALL A CEB
Arsenal loanee Dani Ceballos has dropped a major hint that he could be set to return to parent club Real Madrid in the summer.
The 24-year-old Spaniard joined the Gunners on a season-long loan deal at the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign and impressed in England with his creativity and range of passing.
His loan was then extended last summer and he has enjoyed another good campaign in North London.
But while it would seem Arsenal fans are intent on keeping him on a more permanent basis, comments from Ceballos now appear to suggest he will not stay.
Speaking to Onda Cero, he said: “I’m learning a lot in the Premier [League] but I think LaLiga is better for my game.”
Ceballos looks set to return to Real Madrid at the end of the season
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
