Usmanov will force Wenger to spend

Usmanov will force Wenger to spend

Big news as Alisher Usmanov is planning on making a full takeover of the club.

As a corporate lawyer, I have been a keen follower of the battle for control of Arsenal between the American Kroenke and the Uzbek Usmanov.

Kroenke has definitely got the advantage so far, especially by managing to get a seat on the Board of Directors and appointing his man Ivan Gazidis as the CEO.

With Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith’s shares up for grabs, Usmanov appears in confident mood to reach the 29.9% threshold, just 0.1% short of being forced to make a full take-over of the club under UK corporate laws.

Usmanov says himself that his objective is to acquire 29.9%. Kroenke has been true to his reputation - known as Silent Stan, he has quietly acquired shares, manage to get on the Board of one of the most prestigious institutions in English football and even appoint his own man as the CEO.

But Usmanov is a different kettle of fish - he will try to force his way and will not give up easily.

I definitely think that should Usmanov succeed in his plans for a full take-over, he will make more pressure on Wenger to spend big. He said it himself a couple of years ago that he wanted Arsene to buy more experienced players. In 2009, he said that he will be ready to fund a spending spree at Arsenal - obviously that could force a change in approach in Wenger’s philosophy.