Evening StandardMikel Arteta defends Arsenal as ‘one of the world’s best clubs’ over claims Super League slot was undeserved
Mikel Arteta has hit back at those who questioned whether Arsenal deserved to be part of a Super League by insisting that they are “one of the best clubs in the world”. The Gunners were part of 12 clubs to sign up to a European Super League, which collapsed on Tuesday as the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ all withdrew. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, the competition’s leader, has insisted it is on “standby” but it now appears dead in the water.
Evening StandardZlatan Ibrahimovic to play beyond 40 after signing new AC Milan contract
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s club career will continue into his forties after he penned a new one-year contract with Serie A side AC Milan. Ibrahimovic is Milan’s top scorer this season with 17 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions.
The TelegraphAngry Arsenal fans tell Josh Kroenke Super League plot was 'cowardly' and 'a disgrace'
Arsenal director Josh Kroenke was told by furious fans that the club’s involvement in the botched Super League was a “disgrace” and “cowardly” as the American owners continue to face mounting pressure from supporters. Kroenke, the son of owner Stan, was angrily asked if the time had come for him to leave English football and was told that it was “clear that you do not know enough about our game” in a feisty call with key fan groups. Arsenal are bracing for protests outside the Emirates on Friday night, with many supporters expected to voice their fury at the owners ahead of the Premier League match against Everton. Kroenke appeared at a fans’ forum on Thursday to admit that the club had “got it wrong” by agreeing to join the proposed Super League, which crumbled within days. His comments are unlikely to have placated the supporters ahead of the match against Everton, though, as he was accused of “patronising” Arsenal fans across the world with one of his responses. He also insisted that the owners had no intention of selling the club. Akhil Vyas, of the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust, told Kroenke he was “ashamed” of the club’s decision to join the Super League. “It was a disgrace the way you did it,” Vyas said. “It was cowardly. “You launched it and did not even justify it. It’s clear that you don’t know enough about our game, you don’t know enough about our club. Have you ever thought that English football is not for you, and that it is time to leave it? Because clearly you are not in touch with fans.” At the start of the call, Kroenke told supporters: “The first question we asked ourselves was: what is worse, a Super League or a Super League without Arsenal? That was a very tough one for us to weigh. We decided a Super League without Arsenal was the worst of both those answers. “The second question we asked ourselves was: what do the fans want? I think the global fan wants to see Arsenal versus Barcelona as much as possible. I think the European fan wants to see more big matches between top clubs. “I think from an English fan’s perspective, and this is what was so educating for me, they want to see more big matches. But as one Chelsea supporter wrote on a sign that I saw online the other day, you still want your cold nights in Stoke.”
