Metro
Mikel Arteta has been assured that his future is safe at the club, regardless of whether Arsenal progress to the Europa League final or not.
The Gunners are seeking to overturn a 2-1 defeat in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final clash against Villarreal at the Emirates tonight.
Winning the competition is the club’s only chance to play in the Champions League next term, which would represent progress for the Gunners after missing out last season.
However, a failure to do so is likely to mean Arsenal will be without any form of European football next season, which is costly at a time when the club are facing the financial pressures of the pandemic.
However, with Arsenal’s season resting on tonight’s game, the board see no reason to panic even if the club are knocked out, according to Eurosport.
It’s claimed that the board are even prepared to give Arteta extra funds this summer in light of the recent supporters’ protests against the Kroenke’s ownership of the club.
However, the board appear to be operating under the misconception that top targets will still want to join the club if they fail to qualify for Europe, which Arteta believes will not be the case.
But the Spaniard is prepared to accept secondary targets, with Arteta keen to strengthen in central midfield, central defence and at right-back.
Arsenal are currently ninth in the table and they’ve played a game more than Everton in eighth.
The Gunners last reached the Europa League final in 2019 but they were beaten 4-1 by London rivals Chelsea in Baku.
This Story First Appeared At The Metro
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