Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta met with the media ahead of Everton’s visit to the Emirates Stadium on Friday night and, as expected, the match was overshadowed by questions regarding the Super League.
The Gunners were one of six Premier League clubs that registered as founding members of the competition on Sunday, but late on Tuesday night they announced that they were withdrawing from the project.
As a result of listening to you and the wider football community in recent days, we are withdrawing from the proposed Super League.
We made a mistake and we apologize for that.
– Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 20, 2021
The 38-year-old insisted that he, like many of his comrades, was completely unaware of the plans until just before the news came and described the supporters’ reaction as a “tsunami” that “killed” the project.
As quoted by Arsenal.com, he said: “I found out a bit before the news was leaked. Then everything was completely out of control and the world reacted in a really uniform way. I did not really have time to think about it, reflect, evaluate or something because when it was out, a big tsunami already came to it and basically killed it. “
Asked if he had heard directly from the Kroenke family, he added: “Yes, absolutely. They obviously have the biggest responsibility for running the football club and that is what they said.
“They apologized for disturbing the team, not having the capacity or ability to communicate in any other way before and explaining why. They wanted me to convey the message to the players. That’s all you can ask for. I have done it, I have to accept it completely. “
When Arteta was pressured about mistrust between the fans and the club, Arteta repeated the need to always consider the fans and emphasized the power of their protests against the formation of the Super League.
He added: “This has given a great lesson and it shows the importance of football in the world. It shows that the soul of this sport belongs to the fans and that is it.
Arsenal fans are planning a protest outside the Emirates Stadium on Friday night to make their feelings known on KSE | IAN KINGTON / Getty Images
“They have probably sent the strongest message ever sent in the world of football. Every club that leaves their interest to them has done the right thing, that is, they [the fans] are they [we have to listen to]. We have to listen to them. We extinguished it and within 24 hours they killed the project. It is a massive statement in the history of football. “
Despite the backlash and the fierce opposition to the project, Arteta refused to criticize her managers and their handling of the situation.
He added: “I really have to respect that when people have genuine intentions to do the best for this football club. But if that does not happen or is not the right thing to do, they can stand up here and apologize. I am speaking for myself. myself and I think the players, the staff, everyone who works at the club, we have to accept it and move on. The way it has been handled has been really good internally. “
? Every word from the boss’s press conference ahead of Friday’s game # ARSEVE
– Arsenal (@Arsenal) 22 April 2021
The Spaniard already shares opinions between the club’s supporters, given that Arsenal are in ninth place in the Premier League and his refusal to criticize the controversial ownership will probably disappoint some.
