ARSENAL again fans protested against their ownership outside the Emirates before the Villarreal draw which dumped them out of Europe.
On the pitch, a goalless draw was enough to see former boss Unai Emery knock the Gunners out and progress to the Europa League semi-final.
Meanwhile, 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…
SCOTT OF BOTHER
Alex Scott slammed Arsenal after their shock exit from the Europa League – and admitted they just aren’t good enough.
She told CBS: “I need a minute to compose myself.
“I’m getting all hot – well, I was hot throughout that whole game.
“It’s hard – being connected with the club, being an Arsenal ambassador, growing up at the club – to see what I’m seeing.
“I know the reaction straight away is that passion as a fan and seeing the embarrassment.
“But actually when you do break it down, this Arsenal team is simply not good enough.”
Alex Scott has slammed Arsenal’s Europa League exit MEMORY LAME
Oasis were the biggest band in the world and Pierce Brosnan had just become the new James Bond.
But how else did the world look in 1995 – the last year Arsenal failed to qualify for European football?
DISCOVER WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE
A lot has changed since Arsenal last failed to qualify for Europe FAN’S VIEW
Mikel Arteta’s stubbornness of sticking to just one plan has led to Arsenal’s downfall this season.
His unfathomable selections in last night’s Europa League exit compounded the humiliation.
It is this weakness that has turned me from a supporter firmly in his corner, to an ambivalent one.
READ THE REST HERE
Mikel Arteta has failed to impress this season
NEXT UP
West Brom are the next visitors to Emirates Stadium as Arsenal return to Premier League action.
The Baggies travel to the capital for a 7pm kick-off on Sunday, May 9 – live on BT Sport.
Arsenal made short work of Sam Allardyce’s side in the reverse fixture, winning 4-0.
RAMSEY RETURN
Speculation is mounting that Aaron Ramsey could sign for Arsenal this summer.
The Juventus midfielder has failed to regularly star in Turin and Il BiancoNero report on interest from the Gunners and Everton.
It is said Ramsey would ‘immediately’ jump at the chance of rejoining his old club.
GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK
Unai Emery gave Arsenal a bit of a short shrift in his post-game tweet after reaching the Europa League final.
A long message in Spanish to Villarreal fans was followed by a quick line to Gooners.
The tweet read: “Beautiful night in London. We made history, yellows. Enjoy it a lot.
“But this story is not over yet. And we have to enjoy it together. Proud of the team and for being a part of this great project. We dream together!!! FORWARD to GDANSK!!!
“Good luck to Arsenal for the future.”
LEN THEM OFF THE HOOK
Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno has pointed the finger at the attack for failing to beat Villarreal.
The Gunners had 14 shots last night but put only two of them on target.
And the German said post-game: “The problem was that we didn’t take our chances.
“Overall, we were the better side. Only the first half in Villarreal we played not on our level and that was enough to beat us.”
AUBA AND OUT
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was a huge disappointment for Jamie Carragher in last night’s defeat.
The striker had just 14 touches before being taken off on 80 minutes, by far the lowest of any player who started the 0-0 draw.
In fact, Willian had more having only played the final 10 minutes.
And Carragher told CBS Sports: “Sometimes you can have too many attacking players on the pitch because you cannot get the ball back. And that was the problem.
“Aubameyang hardly touched the ball in the first-alf because there was no one in midfield to win the ball back and give them the ball.
“I thought [Mikel Arteta] got it massively wrong again and almost played into Villarreal’s hands.”
Credit: EPA LIFE SUPPORT
Mikel Arteta has insisted he is giving his whole life to the Arsenal job – and has vowed to fight on as manager after the Europa League heartache.
Assuming there is no late Premier League twist, it will be the fifth campaign in a row without the Champions League and first out of Europe completely since 1995-96.
Asked why that is the ‘trend’, Arteta said: “They are things to analyse more internally, I am sorry.
“We have done that. There are things that we cannot discuss here. I take full responsibility for my part, for sure.
“Since I arrived here what I have tried to do, giving my life, my best ability, investing every drop of energy that I have emotionally to support everything that has been going around with my knowledge, with staff, with all the players that are trying to contribute with all the club to give our best.
“But so far it has not been enough and when the question mark comes, why it is not enough? Is it just a thing? Is it the manager? Is it any other stuff? What is it?
“And then this is football. Again, I repeat myself, last night that ball goes in we win 1-0. You are in the final and it is a different world. But today that world doesn’t look very nice.”
RIGHT SAID FRED
Arsenal’s offensive output is the key issue behind the club’s struggles, according to Freddie Ljungberg.
The Swede praised Mikel Arteta for taking the blame for their semi-final exit but felt his attackers should have done more.
He told BT Sport: “I like that he’s protecting his players, but personally, if you look at the two legs, they had four shots on target in both legs – that’s not good enough
“They’re not creating enough clear chances and that’s a big problem for them.”
ICE BERGE
Arsenal are reportedly in the fight for Sheffield United star Sander Berge.
The midfielder is said to be available for £35million in the summer via a relegation release clause.
And Sky Sports have outlined a number of clubs interested in his signature, including Everton.
Credit: AFP DROPPED HIS GAARD
One moment of Arsenal’s draw really irked Lee Dixon.
Martin Odegaard taking his time to swing in a corner left the former right-back irate.
He said: “This game is lacking intensity from Arsenal, they need to get a goal, come on.
“I understand being patient and playing your game but Martin Odegaard went to take a corner and he walked over.
“Why is he walking over? Get over there and put the pressure on.”
ART DEALER
Mikel Arteta is the bookies’ joint-favourite if a Premier League manager is to lose their job in the final weeks of the season.
Coral have slashed the Spaniard’s odds of being sacked before the first game of next season from 5-1 to 5-2 after Arsenal’s Europa League exit.
And he is among the most likely to be fired before the campaign is out, too.
Next Prem boss to be fired in 2021-22 odds:
2-5 No manager to go
8-1 Mikel Arteta, Sam Allardyce
10-1 Scott Parker
20-1 Roy Hodgson, Steve BruceTAKING THE BISS
Yves Bissouma is wanted by Manchester City, according to reports.
Arsenal had been one of many clubs fighting for the Brighton star but could struggle to hold off Pep Guardiola’s advances.
The Star describe City as ‘confident’ of pulling off a deal for the £30million-rated midfielder.
Credit: PA ‘EMBARRASSMENT’
Martin Keown was one Gunners hero to take a swipe at Mikel Arteta last night.
The ex-defender felt the factor of losing to his predecessor, Unai Emery, will be hard to take for the Arsenal manager.
He told BT Sport: “It’s a huge job at this football club. [Arteta’s] inexperience has perhaps cost him.
“He’s still the manager, but it felt this was the rescue package and his players didn’t turn up.
“He was outsmarted by the previous manager which is a bit of an embarrassment.
“Arsenal looked lost. We couldn’t get out and they made us nervy. We haven’t really laid a glove on them and we haven’t gone down fighting.”
LAST LAUGH
Arsenal’s rivals queued up to tease the Gunners last night after the semi-final exit.
We’ll save you from the bulk of it, and provide only Jermaine Jenas’ tweet for a taste…
SCOTT TO DO BETTER
Arsenal icon Alex Scott has described her disappointment at seeing the club fumble their huge opportunity in the Europa League.
She told CBS Sports after last night’s game: “I need a minute to compose myself. I’m getting all hot – well, I was hot throughout that whole game!
“It’s hard – being connected with the club, being an Arsenal ambassador, growing up at the club – to see what I’m seeing.
“I know the reaction straight away is that passion as a fan and seeing the embarrassment. But actually when you do break it down, this Arsenal team is simply not good enough.
“And you need to question are [the owners] going to put in the funds? Is the investment there? Does this team want to get back to the top? Because it’s going to take a lot of work.
“And the fact that we’re now going to struggle even to get into European competition next season, I can only see it getting worse because you’re not even going to attract players to come to the club.”
A GAME OF MILIMETRES
It would have been a very different atmosphere this morning had this crept in…
PARTEY’S OVER
Thomas Partey has failed to live up to the billing of becoming the club’s ‘next Patrick Vieira’, according to Gunners legend Martin Keown.
A particularly disappointing display in a goalless draw with Villarreal which saw the team crash out of the Europa League led Keown to single him out as a scapegoat.
Speaking on BT Sport, he said: “We thought we were signing the next Patrick Vieira [in Thomas Partey] but he hasn’t looked like that at all.
“We made a mistake, we should have had two midfield players side by side. We didn’t have the right balance in that midfield.
“Odegaard didn’t seem to want to go and press and in midfield Villarreal were just able to pass by.”
IT BEGINS
The calls for Mikel Arteta to lose his job have begun with Piers Morgan questioning whether he ‘deserves to continue as manager’.
And the former Good Morning Britain host branded the Gunners’ performance last night as ‘humiliating’ and ‘utter crap’.
GOOD MORNING GUNNERS FANS
Arsena crashed out of the Europa League last night after failing to score at the Emirates.
The Gunners needed just one effort to hit the back of the net and book their place in the final.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the post twice but there can be no excuses for Arsenal’s below-par performance, with Villarreal now playing Man United for the main prize.
Club legend Maritn Keown had harsh words for Mikel Arteta after the whistle, saying: “Emery was just too smart for Arteta.
“We were nervous, tentative, the performance just wasn’t there. We shouldn’t really be surprised when we look at the Premier League, ninth in the table, 19 goals scored from 17 home matches.
“Inconsistency is rife through the group and it’s cost us. They haven’t had to get out of first gear to manage Arsenal and that’s the most disappointing thing.
“To go unbeaten the whole season and now to not even make Europe, it’s a real fall from grace. I know we’re talking about new ownership, are we now talking about a change of manager?
“There’s a crossroads the club now finds itself at, and this is the lowest night I can remember in a number of years.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal fans descended on the Emirates before the game to protest owner Stan Kroenke.
The American was key in the failed European Super League.
And after Man Utd fans protested on Sunday, Arsenal supporters took to the streets outside the Emirates with banners and flares.
Finally, the Gunners will be sweating over Granit Xhaka’s fitness after he was injured in last night’s warm-up.
The midfielder, filling in at left-back, suffered a muscle problem before kick-off.
And Arsenal will have to wait to see how serious it is.
RATINGS
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tried giving it a go as he hit the post twice against Villarreal.
But Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka were disappointing in Arsenal’s Europa League exit
READ THE FULL RATINGS HERE
Who was Arsenal’s best and worst player against Villarreal? MAX POWER
Former Juventus boss Max Allegri is the leading contender to become Arsenal’s next permanent managerial appointment.
That’s according to bookmakers Betfair, who’ve priced the Italian at 13/5 to replace Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium.
Next Arsenal Manager – Betfair
- Massimiliano Allegri – 13/5
- Brendan Rodgers – 3/1
- Thomas Tuchel – 3/1
- Rafa Benitez – 10/1
- Patrick Vieira – 10/1
- Diego Simeone – 10/1
- Eddie Howe – 11/1
- Ralph Hasenhuttl – 11/1
- Gian Piero Gasperini – 14/1
- Paulo Fonseca – 14/1
- BETFAIR:
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Max Allegri is favourite to replace Mikel Arteta KEOWN NOT KEEN
Martin Keown has blasted Mikel Arteta following Arsenal’s Europa League semi-final defeat by Villarreal.
He said: “Emery was just too smart for Arteta. We were nervous, tentative, the performance just wasn’t there.
“We shouldn’t really be surprised when we look at the Premier League, ninth in the table, 19 goals scored from 17 home matches.
“Inconsistency is rife through the group and it’s cost us. They haven’t had to get out of first gear to manage Arsenal and that’s the most disappointing thing.
“To go unbeaten the whole season and now to not even make Europe, it’s a real fall from grace. I know we’re talking about new ownership, are we now talking about a change of manager?
“There’s a crossroads the club now finds itself at, and this is the lowest night I can remember in a number of years.”
Mikel Arteta has come under fire from Martin KeownCredit: Getty ARSENAL 0 VILLARREAL 0 (1-2 AGG)
Arsenal have crashed out of the Europa League after failing to score at the Emirates.
The Gunners needed just one effort to hit the back of the net and book their place in the final.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the post twice but there can be no excuses for Arsenal’s below-par performance, with Villarreal now playing Man United for the main prize.
READ OUR MATCH REPORT HERE
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
