Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov launches attack on owner Stan Kroenke

Arsenal are threatening to head into meltdown after Alisher Usmanov launched an attack on the club.

Link to Usmanov's letter

After being hit by Robin van Persie's refusal to sign a new contract, the Gunners hierarchy have now been questioned in an open letter from Red & White Holdings - which is fronted by Russian billionaire Usmanov.


It turns up the heat on owner Stan Kroenke as the club battles to stay among the Barclays Premier League's elite.


Hitting out: Russian-based billionaire and Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov (L),sat beside Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, has launched an attack on the club

Arsenal's second-biggest shareholders have written to Kroenke expressing 'deep reservations' about how the American is running the club.

Usmanov and Farhad Moshiri claim that a 'tight' financial regime is leading to manager Arsene Wenger selling his best players and 'having to continue to find cheaper replacements.'

They complain that 'we are faced with losing our true marquee player' because we cannot 'give confidence that we can win trophies,' asking 'where are the safeguards to ensure that this doesn't happen again and again?'

Under pressure: Usmanov's attack has turned up the heat on majority shareholder Stan Kroenke

The pair own just under 30 per cent of Arsenal through investment company Red & White but haven't been allowed on the board by Kroenke.

Red & White feel Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has given the impression there is a 'bitter stand-off' between themselves and the hierarchy.


The letter continued: 'In our view it is clear you are trying to distract attention from the more fundamental issues facing the club.

Tipping point: Red & White's rant comes a day after Robin van Persie announced he will not be signing a new contract

'These are the financial model, the lack of investment and club's future strategic direction.


'At the heart of this is the policy of so-called self-financing.


'The previous decision by the board to fund the building of the Emirates Stadium with long-term debt was, we believe, certainly not about self-financing.'

Red & White, who point out they have 'invested circa £200million of cash', set out their 'vision' for Arsenal.


The letter added: 'It is simple. A debt free club, with a big enough war chest to buy top talent players who can hit the ground running and who can complement the club's long tradition of developing young players and homegrown talent.


Vision: Red & White wants Arsene Wenger to spend money on top talent

'Together they can help the club win the most prestigious trophies - because it is the trophies which are the crowning achievement for everybody at the club.'

Red & White closed their letter by wishing Kroenke 'every success', although stressing they have 'deep reservations about the viability of the policies being pursued by his management team and sanctioned by the board'.


The letter concluded: 'Finally and reflecting our long-term commitment to the club, we will continue to purchase more shares in the club from anyone who wants to sell them to us.


'Also in order to formalise our long-term involvement with the club and put an end to any speculation over our position, we, as the co-owners of Red & White, will proudly retain our holding in the club as a long-term investment for ourselves and our family members to benefit for generations to come.


'We want the absolute best for the club and will do what is necessary to ensure the success of the club that we all love.'
Arsenal will take time reviewing statements in the open letter before deciding whether to make any official response.


New era: Olivier Giroud is one of Wenger's big signings so far this summer

However, it is understood the Gunners board and management team are all very committed to the current direction, with a firm belief that the self-funding model will bring long-term success, both on and off the pitch.


The claims by RWS follow on from the announcement by Van Persie, in a carefully worded statement on his official website, that he would not be extending his current deal, which runs out next summer.


The 28-year-old netted 37 goals in all competitions as Arsenal eventually secured third place, and manager Arsene Wenger recently declared the club must retain their talisman 'at all costs'.


However, despite meeting with Wenger and chief executive Gazidis at the end of last season and the signings of Germany striker Lukas Podolski as well as France forward Olivier Giroud, Van Persie remains unconvinced he can fulfil his ambitions with the club he joined as a raw talent from Feyenoord in May 2004.


Van Persie will turn 29 in August, and the next contract he agrees could well be his last at the highest level.


Serie A winners Juventus, Paris St Germain and Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City are said to be ready to test Arsenal's resolve with a £20million-plus bid.


However, the Gunners - who last summer saw both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leave - could also look to hold Van Persie to the terms of his deal.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2169165/Arsenal-crisis-Alisher-Usmanov-attacks-club-open-letter-Robin-van-Persie-snub.html

BhritanniaBhlue wrote:Youve wondered why he isnt the main shareholder?

....because he hasnt bought enough shares?

RealGunner wrote:I really don't see why this is Important enough to be here but whatever.

Personally, Would hate to have a Rich Owner. Don't want Arsenal to contribute in the Death of Football, Other clubs are doing fine as it is. We still have English roots within the club, Might as well stay like that

RealGunner wrote:I really don't see why this is Important enough to be here but whatever.

Personally, Would hate to have a Rich Owner. Don't want Arsenal to contribute in the Death of Football, Other clubs are doing fine as it is. We still have English roots within the club, Might as well stay like that

chinomaster182 wrote:To everyone saying Arsenal should "invest", i'm sure you would never put your money where your mouth is.

RealGunner wrote:I really don't see why this is Important enough to be here but whatever.

Personally, Would hate to have a Rich Owner. Don't want Arsenal to contribute in the Death of Football, Other clubs are doing fine as it is. We still have English roots within the club, Might as well stay like that

Real Kandahar wrote:Can someone please explain the real reason Wenger doesn't spend? i mean Arsenal isn't a poor club are they? can they not spend 50-80 million euros a year? specially at such times???

Cause the main reason we make a profit is by selling players, and we got most of that money during the few days last season, plus much of Cesc transfer fee is future fees so we haven't gotten the full amount yet.

Arsenal got 73 million from sales of Fabregas , Nasri, Clichy and them last season.. good amount... and then they spent only 50 million ? and that too on worst signings... Gervinho? Artetea? Santos?

Gevinho, Arteta, Santos were all pretty good, Arteta was one of the top PL mids last season and our mid looked crap without him, Gervinho may suck at scoring but he made alot of assists and if he can get his confidence back he would score alot. Santos on the other hand is only at arsenal until Gibbs is good enough to be regular starter atm he is a rotation with Santos.


with that 50-70 million, they could have aquired the services of players like Thiago (barca) .. or Gago or M'Villa (all for arteta) and in place of Gervinho... they could have bought Podolski or Pato or Shaqiri or Hazard or Gotze... and or other options....

There is a difference between having the money to buy them and wasting the money, Pato(PSG), Shaqiri(Knew Bayern wanted him), Hazard(GloryHunter) and Gotze(BL champion) would never come to Arsenal when they go to another team and get more cash there.

What is he doing... Why "We trust in Wenger?" ... Sign Villa-Boas... I respect Wenger, he can truly make his team play beautiful football... and Arsenal does (especially 2 seasons ago) play most beautiful football in Premiere League... but he lacks that cutting edge, and is very bad in the market...

Wenger is one of the best at the market, for many years now we have been barely making profits due to selling our players or we are in the negative or barely even... AVB is not tested in the market and would need at 50mil-60mil to get his own players. And wenger being bad at market is a big joke, you don't know much about him it seems


Look at mourinho.. he got ozil for 12 million... oh cmon, Wenger could have spent that... he just lacked vision... or see.. Varane for 10 million, a future prospect, instead of a guy in his prime ( Metesacker)... who barely played most of the season.... or how Barca bought affely for only 3 million or something...

The only reason RM got those players cheap is because those players wanted to go to RM and their clubs were forced into selling them as some of them were in the last year of contract or had a buy-out clause, Same with Barca.

Per was pretty good for us and defense was much more solid during corner with him. And for many years Wenger has been blamed for not getting player in the prime and instead getting those with good prospect. and you want him to do that...

Anyways my point is, you don't have to be a man city type, just spend reasonable and have the vision to get best players for cheap... wenger is bad at that... well recently at least... i congratulate him for turning Van persie or Fabregas into what they are now... but one or two players is not enough for a club like Arsenal.