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.
CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: CLAIM UP TO £800 IN CASINO BONUS CASH
Stay up to date with every twist and turn from North London in our live blog…
FROM SUNSPORT’S MARK IRWIN
Arsenal are sticking with manager Mikel Arteta and will back him with funds for a summer spending spree.
The 39-year-old Spaniard is now the bookies’ favourite to become the next Premier League boss to be sacked.
But the club is determined to keep faith with Arteta despite the threat of missing out on European qualification for the first time since 1995.
Owner Stan Kroenke and technical director Edu Gaspar remain convinced that Arteta is the right man to lead the club back to the big time.
But they will not wait forever for the Premier League’s youngest boss to make an impact.
And if the team is still stuck in mid-table by the end of the year then Arteta will be replaced.
Arsenal have no plans to ditch Mikel Arteta BERGE KING
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.
Arsenal are keen signing Sander Berge FLOR BLIMEY
Arsenal have missed out on Marseille winger Florian Thauvin.
The Gunners and Leicester were both said to be keen on the Frenchman, who will be a free agent this summer.
But the former Newcastle man has instead agreed a shock move to Tigres, with the Mexicans confirming a deal on Friday.
HE’S A KEEPER
Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana.
The Gunners are waiting to hear about Onana’s appeal after he was banned for failing a drugs test.
According to Goal, Arsenal are tracking the goalkeeper but his availability is a potential stumbling block.
Anana is currently serving a 12-month suspension for a doping violation which runs until February.
The Cameroon keeper has launched an appeal against the ban which will be heard in June.
Arsenal are interested in Andre Onana REBEL ALLIANCE
The Premier League’s Big Six have agreed to multi-million pound fines from Uefa – as a condition of being allowed back into European football.
Uefa chiefs confirmed they had agreed “reintegration measures” with the nine clubs – including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, City and United.
As a condition of the deal, the nine – completed by AC Milan, Inter and Atletico Madrid – will share a slap on the wrist £13m “goodwill” payment to be ploughed into youth and grassroots football, including in the UK.
But all nine, who Uefa said had “acknowledged their mistake”, also agreed to give up five per cent of the money they would have received from Uefa for their next European campaign.
And they agreed they would face massive fines of £87m if they joined any future breakaway, or £43.5m if they merely committed to any such new league.
Nine of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ have been punished by Uefa for their role in the ESL TAKING 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.
Man City have joined Arsenal in the hunt for Yves Bissouma PART AND PARCEL
Martin Keown has slammed Thomas Partey’s first season at Arsenal.
And he also reckons Martin Odegaard failed to do his job properly against Villarreal.
The Gunners icon said after last night’s Europa League exit: “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.”
Thomas Partey has not lived up to expectations GREAT SCOTT
Alex Scott also believes it will take a long time for Arsenal to return to the top.
She added: “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.
“It’s been a mixture of the recruitment over the last couple of seasons.
“When Mikel came in he had to assess the squad and move players on, the whole Mesut Ozil situation which lingered over the club.
“The transfers with Willian, so I think there’s a number of things in place with the club at the moment that needs sorting out and looking at.”
Alex Scott predicts tough times ahead for Arsenal 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 Bruce
TAKING 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.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
