Arsenal hold meetings with players to discuss European Super League

Arsenal are holding meetings at their London Colney training ground to discuss the details of the ongoing European Super League, a movement the club are one of the ‘founding members’ of.

On Sunday evening, of all times, 12 teams confirmed their intentions to join the European Super League. The Premier League’s ‘big six’ – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Manchester United and Tottenham – are being joined by La Liga trio Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Serie A trio Juventus, Inter and AC Milan in founding the new competition, one that will rival current UEFA competitions.

The move has received outstanding backlash from the Premier League, UEFA, FIFA and supporters, with the former stating that it ‘condemns any proposal that attacks the principles of open competition and sporting merit.’

Arsenal have already made their move with it being revealed on Monday that the club have resigned from the European Club Association (ECA), with CEO Vinai Venkatesham stepping down from his position in the body, one he only assumed as recently as March 2021.

Arsenal hold meetings with players to discuss European Super League

With decisions already being made, those taken without the consultation of fans or the consideration of the players, Charles Watts of Goal has revealed that meetings will be taking place at the club’s training ground.

"“Vinai Venkatesham will be explaining the club’s position on the Super League and answering questions from the players around their concerns at the plans,” he said."

Thought to be confirmed is that the owner, Stan Kroenke, would become vice-chairman of the Super League. It is astoundingly convenient that at a time where Arsenal have been regressing, so much of which has taken place under Kroenke’s full ownership, that the rules are being bent to suit personal interests. However, he will not be vice-chairman, but the Gunners with nonetheless of a place on the competition’s board.

As revealed by The Times, clubs entering the Super League will be awarded fees in the region of £300m, with the signing up fee already four times that for those who win the Champions League outright.

These proposals have met fierce criticism from every corner of the sporting world, with threats of players involved being banned from international tournaments, clubs being deducted points domestically and bans from entering UEFA competitions, perhaps even this season, also mooted.

Arsenal have, just now, decided to consult their players. Priorities.