Arsenal try to soothe stars’ fury

ARSENAL chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has apologised to the first-team squad over the European Super League fiasco.

Manager Mikel Arteta and Venkatesham addressed all of the players at the Gunners’ London Colney training ground yesterday morning.

On the back of the club issuing a full apology to supporters after the collapse of the ill-fated ESL, the hierarchy have now explained the club’s position to players and coaching staff.

Venkatesham addressed the whole group, explained the reasoning behind Arsenal’s stance and then apologised fully for putting them through the mess of the previous 48 hours.

Arsenal players listened intently – and had questions.

Specifically, they wanted to know why there had not been any consolation with them.

But the Big Six clubs were bound by confidentially because of the legal complexities of their breakaway group.

The meeting was held in one of the main gyms at the training ground, so everyone could be socially distanced.

Venkatesham and Arteta accepted they could understand the players’ anger and frustration.

Defender Hector Bellerin had posted on social media on Tuesday evening about respecting the “values and traditions” of the club.

And, clearly, there has been anger within Arsenal’s squad and among other players in the Big Six that they had not been consulted – and were suddenly threatened with being banned from international football.

Widespread fan outrage has been overwhelming and players have had major concerns as to why club owners had bought into such an explosive and destructive proposal.

Arteta – like Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola – was not privy to full details before the story broke and now has to get the players focused on tomorrow’s home game against Everton.

Venkatesham has offered to speak to any player on a one-on-one basis and the players have been urged to concentrate on the run-in with the club still in the Europa League semi-final with Villarreal next week.

Venkatesham (left) has also communicated with other staff at the club to reiterate the blanket apology.