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The English Premier League is set for yet more American influence as billionaire Stan Kroenke moves closer towards control of Arsenal.

When Kroenke's interest in the club was first revealed, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood pompously announced that "his sort" were not welcome. However, after increasing his share to 12.38 percent and being invited onto the board last week, the St Louis Rams, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche owner is likely to be the man who has most influence on the north London club moving forwards.

Kroenke has benefited from concerns among Arsenal directors concerning Russian Alisher Usmanov, who has got his hands on nearly 25 percent and is still buying any new shares that come on to the market.

Even so, this report by the Guardian's Matt Scott claims Usmanov is willing to step aside and be a silent partner, with Kroenke making most of the big financial decisions.

Kroenke is understood to be ready to spend big in the transfer market.

The profit-sharing system in the EPL is based on a staggered method that rewards success, rather than the principle of equality used in the NFL. If Arsenal continues to shine both domestically and in the Champions League, then the club's current valuation of around $1.5 billion could prove to be a bargain.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"When you bring in someone new you obviously hope and expect them to do well, but Darren has even surpassed what we thought he could do."

San Jose Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop on Darren Huckerby, the signing that has turned around the club's season.

FERNANDO TORRES, SPAIN. With the Spanish having so many standouts in their 1-0 win over Germany, it almost seems unfair to single out one man. Torres' superb finish was the difference between the two teams though, and he was unlucky not to add another goal when his header hit the post.

WHAT WE LEARNED SUNDAY

1. That there is some justice. Spain deserved to lift the trophy after entertaining us all for the past three weeks. They held their nerve and proved their big-game credentials emphatically.

2. That this German team needs a shakeup if it wants to challenge in the next World Cup. Michael Ballack is said to be considering international retirement and the defense needs a drastic overhaul.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE NEXT

1. If Euro 2012 is going to be held in Poland and Ukraine, then there needs to be some positive action – and quickly. Guarantees and promises are no good. Unless the co-hosts (especially Ukraine) can show that political red tape and disorganization is not going to impact the event, then it should be relocated to a more appropriate venue.

2. For the suggestion to raise the number of teams in the tournament to 24 to be ratified. There are enough good teams in Europe to ensure that the quality would not be diluted too much and the fans would get to see up to 20 more games, depending on the new format.

FERNANDO TORRES, SPAIN. With the Spanish having so many standouts in their 1-0 win over Germany, it almost seems unfair to single out one man. Torres' superb finish was the difference between the two teams though, and he was unlucky not to add another goal when his header hit the post.

WHAT WE LEARNED SUNDAY

1. That there is some justice. Spain deserved to lift the trophy after entertaining us all for the past three weeks. They held their nerve and proved their big-game credentials emphatically.

2. That this German team needs a shakeup if it wants to challenge in the next World Cup. Michael Ballack is said to be considering international retirement and the defense needs a drastic overhaul.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE NEXT

1. If Euro 2012 is going to be held in Poland and Ukraine, then there needs to be some positive action – and quickly. Guarantees and promises are no good. Unless the co-hosts (especially Ukraine) can show that political red tape and disorganization is not going to impact the event, then it should be relocated to a more appropriate venue.

2. For the suggestion to raise the number of teams in the tournament to 24 to be ratified. There are enough good teams in Europe to ensure that the quality would not be diluted too much and the fans would get to see up to 20 more games, depending on the new format.

FERNANDO TORRES, SPAIN. With the Spanish having so many standouts in their 1-0 win over Germany, it almost seems unfair to single out one man. Torres' superb finish was the difference between the two teams though, and he was unlucky not to add another goal when his header hit the post.

WHAT WE LEARNED SUNDAY

1. That there is some justice. Spain deserved to lift the trophy after entertaining us all for the past three weeks. They held their nerve and proved their big-game credentials emphatically.

2. That this German team needs a shakeup if it wants to challenge in the next World Cup. Michael Ballack is said to be considering international retirement and the defense needs a drastic overhaul.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE NEXT

1. If Euro 2012 is going to be held in Poland and Ukraine, then there needs to be some positive action – and quickly. Guarantees and promises are no good. Unless the co-hosts (especially Ukraine) can show that political red tape and disorganization is not going to impact the event, then it should be relocated to a more appropriate venue.

2. For the suggestion to raise the number of teams in the tournament to 24 to be ratified. There are enough good teams in Europe to ensure that the quality would not be diluted too much and the fans would get to see up to 20 more games, depending on the new format.

FERNANDO TORRES, SPAIN. With the Spanish having so many standouts in their 1-0 win over Germany, it almost seems unfair to single out one man. Torres' superb finish was the difference between the two teams though, and he was unlucky not to add another goal when his header hit the post.

WHAT WE LEARNED SUNDAY

1. That there is some justice. Spain deserved to lift the trophy after entertaining us all for the past three weeks. They held their nerve and proved their big-game credentials emphatically.

2. That this German team needs a shakeup if it wants to challenge in the next World Cup. Michael Ballack is said to be considering international retirement and the defense needs a drastic overhaul.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE NEXT

1. If Euro 2012 is going to be held in Poland and Ukraine, then there needs to be some positive action – and quickly. Guarantees and promises are no good. Unless the co-hosts (especially Ukraine) can show that political red tape and disorganization is not going to impact the event, then it should be relocated to a more appropriate venue.

2. For the suggestion to raise the number of teams in the tournament to 24 to be ratified. There are enough good teams in Europe to ensure that the quality would not be diluted too much and the fans would get to see up to 20 more games, depending on the new format.

CESC FABREGAS, SPAIN. Fabregas was superb from the moment he came on after 34 minutes in Thursday's 3-0 victory over Russia. He turned the game by craftily unlocking the Russian defense and is now almost certain to start in the final on Sunday.

WHAT WE LEARNED THURSDAY

1. That Spain owes much to David Villa but can cope without him. Villa was spectacular in the early part of the tournament and was the catalyst behind his team's surge through Group D. He will miss the final through injury, but the way the team coped -- thanks to Fabregas -- was thoroughly impressive and means the Spanish will hold no fear ahead of the final.

2. That Andrei Arshavin is human. The Russian midfielder's performances against Sweden and Holland created an aura of mystique around him, but he was well contained in the semifinal. Luis Aragones was encouraged to use Fabregas in a man-marking role by two members of his staff, but he eventually settled on Marcos Senna -- who did not let him down.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM THE FINAL

1. A better Germany performance. Coach Joachim Loew and several players admitted they were fortunate to emerge from their semifinal with Turkey and know that much, much more will be needed against Spain.

2. For the Spanish to hold their nerve. They have crumbled when faced with the big occasion in the past. But for the sake of giving this fantastic tournament an appropriate sendoff, let's hope both teams are in full flow.

CESC FABREGAS, SPAIN. Fabregas was superb from the moment he came on after 34 minutes in Thursday's 3-0 victory over Russia. He turned the game by craftily unlocking the Russian defense and is now almost certain to start in the final on Sunday.

WHAT WE LEARNED THURSDAY

1. That Spain owes much to David Villa but can cope without him. Villa was spectacular in the early part of the tournament and was the catalyst behind his team's surge through Group D. He will miss the final through injury, but the way the team coped -- thanks to Fabregas -- was thoroughly impressive and means the Spanish will hold no fear ahead of the final.

2. That Andrei Arshavin is human. The Russian midfielder's performances against Sweden and Holland created an aura of mystique around him, but he was well contained in the semifinal. Luis Aragones was encouraged to use Fabregas in a man-marking role by two members of his staff, but he eventually settled on Marcos Senna -- who did not let him down.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM THE FINAL

1. A better Germany performance. Coach Joachim Loew and several players admitted they were fortunate to emerge from their semifinal with Turkey and know that much, much more will be needed against Spain.

2. For the Spanish to hold their nerve. They have crumbled when faced with the big occasion in the past. But for the sake of giving this fantastic tournament an appropriate sendoff, let's hope both teams are in full flow.

BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER, GERMANY. The Germans looked dreadful for most of their 3-2 semifinal victory over Turkey, but Schweinsteiger's classy finish to equalize at 1-1 was highly impressive.

WHAT WE LEARNED WEDNESDAY

1. That there will be some harsh words spoken by Germany coach Joachim Loew over the next couple of days. Loew will be delighted at being one game away from winning 2008, but he will know that dramatic improvement will be needed on Sunday.

2. That Turkey truly was the bravest team in Euro 2008. With so many players injured or suspended, it must have been tempting for Fatih Terim's team to take a negative and defensive approach. Instead, they took the game to Germany and were unlucky to end up losers.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE THURSDAY

1. To see how Spain plans on curtailing the impact of Russia's brilliant Andrei Arshavin. Holland and Sweden couldn't do it. Don't be surprised if Cesc Fabregas is used in a man-marking role in an attempt to deny Arshavin space.

2. No more of the storm-caused technical problems that robbed millions of fans around the world of visual footage for several minutes of the first semifinal. Unavoidable I guess, but deeply unfortunate.

BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER, GERMANY. The Germans looked dreadful for most of their 3-2 semifinal victory over Turkey, but Schweinsteiger's classy finish to equalize at 1-1 was highly impressive.

WHAT WE LEARNED WEDNESDAY

1. That there will be some harsh words spoken by Germany coach Joachim Loew over the next couple of days. Loew will be delighted at being one game away from winning 2008, but he will know that dramatic improvement will be needed on Sunday.

2. That Turkey truly was the bravest team in Euro 2008. With so many players injured or suspended, it must have been tempting for Fatih Terim's team to take a negative and defensive approach. Instead, they took the game to Germany and were unlucky to end up losers.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE THURSDAY

1. To see how Spain plans on curtailing the impact of Russia's brilliant Andrei Arshavin. Holland and Sweden couldn't do it. Don't be surprised if Cesc Fabregas is used in a man-marking role in an attempt to deny Arshavin space.

2. No more of the storm-caused technical problems that robbed millions of fans around the world of visual footage for several minutes of the first semifinal. Unavoidable I guess, but deeply unfortunate.

IKER CASILLAS, SPAIN. The Real Madrid goalkeeper did not deserve to end up on the losing side against Italy and continued his impressive tournament with two key shootout saves in Spain's dramatic quarterfinal win.

WHAT WE LEARNED SUNDAY

1. That superstition and coincidence can be conquered. In its history, Spain had lost three times on penalties on the date of June 22 and there were millions of nervous souls back home when the quarterfinal went to a shootout. But Luis Aragones's side held its nerve to book a place in the last four.

2. That Italy's exit from the tournament is a relief to all neutral fans. Sorry Italy supporters, but your team was horribly defensive on Sunday and deserved what it got. It is one thing for teams with no talent to operate with a defensive mindset, but for a side with as much ability as Roberto Donadoni's men, there is no excuse.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM THE TWO REST DAYS

1. For UEFA to allow Turkey special dispensation to bring in an extra player. The latest injury, to key striker Nihat Kahveci, leaves the Turks facing the ludicrous situation of entering their semifinal with only 13 fit players.

2. A cure for soccer withdrawal symptoms. This thrilling tournament has captivated soccer fans with a non-stop diet of matches for 16 days in a row. It's only two days without a game, but we can't wait for it to start again with two enthralling semifinals.