Billionaire Ek says he is serious about Arsenal bid

SPOTIFY chief executive Daniel Ek insists his Arsenal takeover bid is “very serious” as manager Mikel Arteta said the current owners would do anything it takes to improve their relationship with supporters.

Swedish billionaire Ek last week said he would be interested in purchasing the Premier League club, which is owned by Stan Kroenke through his Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) business.

But any potential deal looks to have been scuppered following a staunch response from the Gunners’ American owners, who say they have not received any bids.

“In recent days we have noted media speculation regarding a potential takeover bid for Arsenal Football Club,” read a KSE statement on Tuesday.

“We remain 100 per cent committed to Arsenal and are not selling any stake in the club.”

Supporters protested against Kroenke outside the Emirates Stadium on Friday as Arsenal’s involvement in the failed European Super League further widened the divide between owners and fans.

Despite KSE ruling out a sale, Ek told CNBC that he has a “compelling offer” for the club and that he has already secured the necessary finances to back the move.

“I’ve been an Arsenal fan since I was eight years old. Arsenal is my team. I love the history. I love the players. And of course, I love the fans,” he said.

“So as I look at that, I just see a tremendous opportunity to set a real vision for the club to bring it back to its glory. And I want to establish trust with fans and I want to engage the fans again.

“So, to answer your question, I’m very serious. You know, I have secured the funds for it and I want to bring what I think is a very compelling offer to the owners and I hope they hear me out.”

Asked whether Kroenke’s perceived lack of interest in the club he follows made him “angry”, Ek added: “I’ve been a fan for 30 years of this club and I certainly didn’t expect that this would happen overnight and I’m prepared that this could be a long journey. But all I can do is prepare what I think is a very thoughtful offer and bring it to them and hope they hear me out.

“I’m just focused on the club, I focus on the fans and I focus on trying to bring the club back to glory and as you said, I’m first and foremost a fan. That’s the most important thing for me and I want the club to do better.”

Arteta refused to use the Super League debacle or fan protest as an excuse for a poor performance in Friday’s defeat by Everton, but admits he hopes KSE’S statement will end takeover talk. “It closes a lot of the speculation regarding what could happen because they moved straightaway and made very clear lines of their understanding and what they want to do with the football club,” he said.