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…
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Not a bad impersonation of an Arsenal great, from current star Emile Smith Rowe.
The youngster has Charlie George’s celebration down to a tee.
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.
Dwight McNeil has impressed for the ClaretsCredit: AP ARSENAL STATS
Let’s take a look at Arsenal’s Premier League campaign so far.
Alexandre Lacazette has scored the most league goals, 13 so far.
Granit Xhaka has been heavily involved their Premier League campaign, making the most passes, tackles and fouls.
Here’s the data…
DIXON REMEMBERS 2002
Arsenal legend Lee Dixon has celebrated the 19th anniversary of their title triumph at Old Trafford.
On May 8, 2002, the Gunners defeated Manchester United 1-0 to win the Premier League.
They have won just one league title since.
WILSHERE DISAGREES WITH KEOWN
Jack Wilshere has disagreed with Martin Keown over Thomas Party.
The ex-defender criticised the midfielder after Thursday night’s Europa League defeat to Villarreal, telling BT Sport: “We thought we were signing the next Patrick Vieira, and he hasn’t looked like that at all.”
Responding to Keown’s comments, Wilshere said: “Thomas Partey is a top, top player.
“I played against him in the semi-final of the Europa League and he was one of the toughest I played against.
“The recruitment is not down to Arteta. He’s the coach, he’s the manager and he picks the team.
“It is down to him to get the best out of them, but I wouldn’t say the recruitment is down to him anymore.”
ESR TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE
Emile Smith Rowe paid tribute to Arsenal legend Charlie George by emulating his 1971 FA Cup final goal in training.
It’s 50 years to the day since the Gunners defeated Liverpool 2-1 to win their first league and cup double.
If Smith Rowe has half the career George had, he’ll be some player.
MAGIC TUCH
Manchester United transfer target Ousmane Dembele has revealed that Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is the best manager he has played under.
The 23-year-old Frenchman was coached by Tuchel during his time as a teenager at Borussia Dortmund.
And it is another player during his time at Dortmund – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – that he describes as his best teammate.
Speaking to BeIN Sports, he said: “Things went super at Dortmund, a super squad, Aubameyang who welcomed me amazingly, even if it was quite tough with the German.
“Aubameyang really welcomed me well, he is the person that I have liked the most in football.
“And like I said Thomas Tuchel really convinced me, he is my favourite manager.”
MERSE SLAMS GUNNERS
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has slammed Mikel Arteta’s side following their Europa League semi-final defeat to Villarreal.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson said: “It’s the worst [Arsenal performance] I’ve ever seen.
“That was the semi-final of a European game and there was absolutely no urgency.
“If you’d have come in and turned it on with 10 minutes to go, you’d have thought Arsenal were through.
“It was mind-blowing at the highest level.”
GUNNER SORT
Arsenal chief Richard Garlick will work on resolving the futures of Emile Smith Rowe and Alexandre Lacazette when he joins the club.
Garlick will take over as director of football operations on May 17 having been working for the Premier League in the same role.
And according to ESPN, two of his first jobs will be to sort out contract issues.
The first will be getting Smith Rowe to put pen to paper on a fresh deal.
His current one runs until 2023 but after a breakthrough season this term, the 20-year-old is due to earn a pay rise.
For Lacazette, Garlick must decide whether or not to offer a new deal.
The Frenchman, 29, is out of contract at the end of the 2021-22 season.
ICYMI – 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.
BARC-ING MAD
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have vowed to go to war with Uefa over threats to throw them out of European competition for sticking to the Super League plans.
The three clubs have been warned by the governing body they face a two-year ban from their competitions unless they finally give up their intention to play in the rebel tournament.
But in a joint statement released this morning, the football superpowers doubled down on their refusal to give up on the project and made it clear they think the law is on their side.
Real, Barca and Juve are all now prepared to fight it through the courts to challenge any Uefa ban as they desperately try to cling on to the ESL dream which will save them from the financial turmoil they have left themselves in.
Click here to read the statement.
ART & SOUL
Mikel Arteta says he is giving his whole LIFE to the Arsenal job.
And he vowed to fight on as manager after the Europa League heartache to Villarreal.
Speaking after the defeat, Arteta said: “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.”
MAY 8 IS ARSENAL’S DAY
The Gunners just love playing on May 8.
As well as securing their first ever double 50 years ago today, it’s 19 years since Arsene Wenger’s side won the Premier League title at Old Trafford.
A goal from Frenchman Sylvain Wiltord secured a 1-0 victory.
Arsenal fans can only dream of such success today…
ARTETA FOCUSED ON PL FINISH
Mikel Arteta wants his team to finish the Premier League season strongly following Thursday night’s Europa League defeat to Villarreal.
The Gunners boss, speaking to the club’s official website, said: “We have no time [to think too deeply about Thursday’s disappointment] because we have a game on Sunday.
“We have a training session this morning [Friday] and it has to be by today when you leave the training ground, most of it has to be out of the system.
“I think you have to leave some of it in some of your system, and use some of it in the right way as an energy driver in the game on Sunday.”
HOW HIGH CAN ARSENAL FINISH?
Following their Europa League exit, Arsenal’s priority is to qualify for European football next season.
They are currently ninth in the Premier League on 49 points, with four games remaining.
Should they win their remaining games – and, somehow, their rivals lose theirs – the Gunners will finish in fourth.
They are currently 12 points behind Chelsea, the team occupying that position.
As that is extremely unlikely to happen, Arsenal should be aiming to finish seventh or higher.
They are currently five points behind Liverpool in seventh and seven points behind Tottenham in sixth.
If they finish seventh, they will qualify for the Europa Conference League – Uefa’s new tertiary competition.
Fifth and sixth are the Europa League spots.
Failing that, they could always try and revive the European Super League…
Credit: The Sun
50 YEARS AGO
Today is the 50th anniversary of Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph against Liverpool.
Goals from Eddie Kelly and Charlie George secured a 2-1 victory in extra-time.
The win was the second half of Arsenal’s first league and cup double – a decade after Tottenham had achieved the honour.
The greatest day in Arsenal’s history?
ART DEALER
Arsenal are sticking with 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 Gunners are determined to keep faith with Arteta despite the very real threat of missing out on European qualification for the first time since 1995.
Owner Stan Kroenke and technical director Edu remain convinced Arteta is the right man to lead the club back to the big time.
But if the team is still mid-table by the end of the year then Arteta will be replaced.
Credit: EPA JOE GOALS
Arsenal loanee Joe Willock has scored in each of his last four games for Newcastle.
The 21-year-old has bagged against Tottenham (pleasing Gunners everywhere), West Ham, Liverpool and Leicester.
Surely he should be given a chance next season by Mikel Arteta?
If he’s still in charge, that is.
GOOD MORNING GUNNERS FANS
SunSport understands 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.
Meanwhile, 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.
Finally, 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.
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
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
