Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta fully focused on Europa League semi-final against Villarreal as talk of club takeover increases; Spotify owner Daniel Ek to make £1.8bn offer for Gunners this week; Arsenal fans protested against Kroenke family owners after collapse of European Super League
Wednesday 5 May 2021 14:22, UK
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his players cannot afford to be distracted by talk of a takeover at the club ahead of their Europa League semi-final second leg against Villarreal.
Ek is confident the offer - which is expected to be worth around £1.8bn - will be considered and has the full backing of Henry and fellow Arsenal legends Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp.
The takeover speculation is part of an increase in supporter-led calls for change in the way Premier League clubs are run, especially the six which attempted to form a breakaway European Super League last month.
Arteta, meanwhile, is preparing his side for a huge game on Thursday as they attempt to overhaul a 2-1 deficit to Villarreal in the second leg of a Europa League semi-final, a competition for which victory carries qualification for next season's Champions League.
"We have to try to be away from all of the rumours and everything that is happening around the club," said Arteta. "We have to focus on the pitch because the best way to help the football club is to win football matches and be competitive at the highest level.
"It's a massive game for the club and if we win we will be much closer to getting a trophy. Winning always helps for the future, it is the best way to prepare for anything."
Fan protests at Manchester United led to the postponement of their game against Liverpool on Sunday and Gunners fans are in a similar mood to their Old Trafford counterparts regarding the respective owners of the clubs.
The Arsenal Supporters' Trust (AST) say they have held a constructive meeting with Ek and Arteta says that while protests may continue on Thursday night, his players must be focused on the match.
"I think fans have to be able to express themselves," he said. "They have the right do it. We have to prepare for the game in the best possible way and I wouldn't like to use any excuses if something happens with that.
"I know that the only focus of the fans is to defend the club and they want the best for the team. We will try to give them that.
"We've been missing the fans so much and we need them."
Unai Emery admits he is wary of the threat posed by Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the Villarreal boss prepares to return to the Emirates.
Emery was Gunners' head coach when they reached the final of the Europa league in 2019, with Aubameyang scoring a hat-trick in their semi-final victory in Valencia.
Arsenal were subsequently beaten by London rivals Chelsea in Baku but, with Gabon international Aubameyang expected to start against the Yellow Submarine on Thursday night, Emery knows he could once again be the danger man his side must be wary of.
"He has been through a process of being out of the team because of the illness he has had but he is back," said Emery.
"He is there to work, to defend the team and give everything for the team, hoping he can perform at the top level and if that happens, he is going to be very difficult to stop.
"We expect to find the best Aubameyang possible, the same with Granit Xhaka. I think he is a great person, a really great footballer.
"He was the top scorer in the Premier League [along with Liverpool duo Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah] when I was there."
Despite Villarreal's narrow victory at El Madrigal last week, Emery insists he still sees Arsenal as favourites to progress into the final in the Polish city of Gdansk on May 26.
"I consider the first-leg result does not change how I see the initial competition," he added.
"Arsenal started as favourites and they are still favourites at this stage. We will try to compete against this kind of team - those favourite teams - but the first-leg result is really narrow to make anything change.
"Why [are they favourites]? Because of history, because of the present, because of the ability and the level, from the budget, from the players they have in their squad - I consider them favourites. We are the underdogs."
