4:15am

giving the FA Cup a good go because we have a real shot at winning that I think.

This has to be the best news to happen to the club for some time, finally Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has got the 30% shares he needed to demand a seat on the Arsenal board, which will really be worrying not only for Ivan Gazidis but majority shareholder Stan Kroenke also, as this move will surely now open a whole can of worms of what really has been going on behind closed doors at Arsenal over the past 6/7 years and where the money from sales and profit really has gone in all that time.

And that slippery eel Ivan Gazidis should really be shaking by now as Usmanov is firmly behind bringing David Dein back to the club also in the role that Gazidis now runs, and runs very badly I must add, no longer is there the bridge that there once was between Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and the board as there was in Dein’s time at the club, despite a very public face Wenger and Gazidis do not really share the same views on the policies of the club nor does himself and American billionaire businessman Stan Kroenke who is in the club for the sole aim of profit and marketing not anything else, Usmanov is a huge passionate football fanatic Kroenke is not, he is a businessman out for that almighty dollar, you have to look how far his American teams have fallen from grace since he has been in charge to realise that most notably the NFL team the former LA Rams not St Louis Rams, who Kroenke shipped off and moved back due to American teams being a franchise rather than anything else, they used to be one of the toughest NFL teams, now they’re a shade of their former selves during Kroenke’s time in ownership of them – mark my words if Kroenke was offered a mega bucks deal for the land the Emirates is on, trust me he would take it and bulldoze the place for a new Wallmart and multi storey car park without any hesitation, he is a businessman after all,

Alisher Usmanov will ultimately be given access to the clubs accounts with this percentage, something that will now be concerning the shareholders and board members alike, every detail of the club will now be under scrutiny in fine detail by Usmanov and that can only be a good thing, he will now find out for sure if there were the millions the club claimed every season they had for new players, or if the board have been using their famous smokescreen ploy to appease fans, and instead whilst not spending on strengthening the team, have indeed just been paying off debts, most worryingly of all, we will find out if the board have indeed been lying to fans, or if the one who indeed has been refusing to spend is and always has been Arsene Wenger, as many of us have thought, surely now he will also be worried at this prospect.

If Umanov is to do what the majority want, and force a takeover bid from Stan Kroenke – for me I hope he does, he will first now have to make his intentions known to the OF-EX market, he would then following that have up to six months to go ahead and make the offer for whatever shares are remaining, which you can guarantee in order to stop him will become the highest price for shares he has had to pay out on to date, before he can do any of that mind he will have to pass what is the Premier League Owners and Directors Test, to determine once and for all whether Usmanov is suitable to own a Premier League football club, and if he passes that test – he can then start to bang on the door for a proper seat in the board, from the one man who has been denying him this so far and refusing him, Stan Kroenke the American owner who was noted as the ringleader behind an attempt by American owners to turn the Premier League into an American business franchise and abolishing the relegation system of the league.

Good on you Alisher Usmanov, the majority of fans are behind you on this, and the sooner the better that the board finally have something to fear and worry about – which also may in turn finally put pressure on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to deliver his season after season promises and to actually now show results of those promises to succeed, something this current board who have been happy to milk the made profits by Wenger have refused to put pressure on him to succeed and deliver!

Yeah saw that a few days ago, yet to be confirmed as far as I can see.

I think the best thing that could happen is for Usmanov to buy out Kroenke's shares. Can't see any other better outcome.

There is some pretty interesting posts under the article. I would have thought (if it has been confirmed) that everyone would have been for it, however the possibility doesn't have everyone on board.

Fingers crossed it happens fast and we can get back on our feet for next season.

A link to that article would have been nice! Can't find it on that site. Just trudging back over the pages and wow... the negativity of the article titles is way over the top.
We're still competing for champions league spots, still one of the biggest clubs in England and still producing great young talent.
Starting to annoy me a little how much people take Arsenal being a successful for granted.

Having said that I would like Usmanov to take more influence over the club just to balance out the ultra conservationism of Stan Kroenke but I don't want us to become Manchester City, Arsenal is a classier club than that.

I don't want us to become Manchester City

Speak for yourself! :lol: :p

Despite not winning trophies for too long now I have still enjoyed being an Arsenal fan so much because we have at least tried to do things our own way. Each win is so much sweeter because it was not the result of some mega oil baron chucking money at a plaything.

I find myself extremely frustrated by the clubs secrecy too, especially the recent lack of explanation for strengthening that could have been made with only slightly increased bids, but what I find far more frustrating is the simple minded fans who scream ‘Wenger Out, Usmanov In’ simply because we are not winning trophies in the same way as Chelsea and City. It seems extremely shallow, like the only thing that matters is short term success.

Who cares if City win trophies? It wasn’t through any endeavour. Those trophies are gifts. Will Usmanov make us the same? Right place, right time? I guess some fans don’t care, so long as they can brag to mates and colleagues that Arsenal are on top, no matter how. Same sort who’d walk around with a smug grin, slagging off less wealthy people if they won the lottery.

For all of Wenger/Gazidis’ faults, at least we’ve enjoyed success through actual endeavour, are maintaining (hopefully) top four status and have got the stadium move out the way. We’ve even come within touching distance of beating the oil whores with a hundredth of the budget.

Some people just have to whinge all the time. The grass is always greener. Well just look at other clubs. Imagine how Liverpool fans have felt for the last decade or longer. And just look at Chelsea now…its hilarious how much they spend and they are struggling to keep up with silly little Arsenal. Pathetic, they are a joke.

A bit of perspective is needed sometimes.

Yeah, while I don't want to go crazy like they did, I wouldn't mind some big name signings.

I don't want to go crazy like they did

Hoping Aaron Ramsey get's a brace soon and duffs up Palmer and Piers Morgan sometime. They're both twats.

I'm with Gooner4life here, who cares! Usmanov in! Let's spend lots of money right now and fuck the future! Endeavour my arse I want a trophy.

Let's have em all.

I did quite like where Piers Morgan accused Emmanuel Frimpong of being disloyal because he had the gall to go on loan to Wolves :lol:

As for Usmanov in, it's easy now to say go crazy who cares about the future, but will you be saying that in a few years down the track when we're being banned from European competition for breaking the FFP.

[size=6]Arsenal's star player Robin van Persie is ready to start talks about staying with the club[/size]

The club captain and talisman is out of contract next year and has so far refused to publicly discuss his long-term future, but the indications are that he is now prepared to hold provisional talks with the Arsenal hierarchy.

It remains unlikely that any deal will be finalised before the end of the season — and there is clarity over Arsenal’s Champions League status — but Van Persie’s willingness to listen would still be an extremely positive step forward for the club.

It is understood that Arsenal are considering an offer whereby Van Persie would be paid a substantial ‘renewal’ fee in addition to significantly improved terms on a salary that is currently around £80,000 a week.

Van Persie will be aware that other players of comparable world-class quality are on around double that wage, with Arsenal considering a rise that would take him beyond £100,000 a week.

Arsenal have around £55 million available to invest in the squad and must balance the desire to renew Van Persie’s contract with having funds to spend this summer on new players.

Wenger’s budget includes player wages, creating a quandary over how much money is directed towards the renewal of contracts.

Even if Van Persie does not accept the likely offer from Arsenal of a four-year contract, his departure this summer is not a foregone conclusion.

Arsenal seriously considered holding Samir Nasri to his contract last summer and, if the same scenario arises with Van Persie, there will be a strong argument to keep him for another season even if he could then leave for nothing in the summer of 2013.

Van Persie is the Premier League leading goalscorer and, at such a pivotal moment in Arsenal’s history, is clearly of greater short-term importance than Nasri.

With Van Persie turning 29 in August, there is also no guarantee that leading European clubs will be prepared to pay a transfer fee in excess of £20  million.

A significant squad overhaul is under consideration this summer, however, with Andrei Arshavin, Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott all in the final 18 months of their contracts.

The expectation is that talks will also be held with representatives of both Walcott and Rosicky over the next month, with Dick Law, the club’s lead negotiator, now focusing on existing player contracts following the closure of the January transfer window.

Rosicky is expected to agree a one-year contract but, as with Van Persie, the situation with Walcott is unlikely to be resolved until Arsenal’s season has ended.

Preliminary talks have been held between Arsenal and Walcott but no formal offer has been made.

Arshavin appears unlikely to be offered a new contract and, although Anzhi Makhachkala are expected to launch a fresh bid ahead of the closure of the Russian transfer window on Friday, he is likely to stay at Arsenal until at least the end of the season.

Others who could depart on loan before the end of the season include Lukas Fabianski and Ju Young Park.

Arsenal’s strategy in relation to player contracts is likely to be addressed at a board meeting this Thursday that will be attended by Wenger and the club’s majority owner Stan Kroenke.

Arsenal do still have the fourth highest wage bill in the Premier League but there is an argument there should be a larger gap between their stars, such as Van Persie, and more average squad players.

The short-term focus, though, is Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham and staying ahead of Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle in the battle to finish fourth.

Arsenal have been boosted by the news that Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs should return in defence.

There is also the hope that Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby will still play a part in the run-in to the season.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/9094585/Arsenals-star-player-Robin-van-Persie-is-ready-to-start-talks-about-staying-with-the-club.html

The fact that he might even be willing to open talks before the season is out has to be a huge step in the right direction. Still have a feeling he will re-sign.

[size=6]Reserves: Norwich 0-5 Arsenal[/size]

By Rob Kelly at Carrow Road

Andrey Arshavin netted twice as Arsenal Reserves put in a superb performance to beat Norwich 5-0 at Carrow Road on Tuesday evening.

Ju Young Park opened the scoring in the sixth minute from close range before Arshavin curled in a second just before half time.

Benik Afobe - who had earlier missed a penalty - claimed the third in the 58th minute before Arshavin registered again seven minutes later. Yossi Benayoun capped off a brilliant individual display with the final goal just before the end.

Neil Banfield named a strong side for the match in Norfolk with a clutch of first-team players appearing. Arshavin was included for his first Reserves appearance of the season and the Russian lined up in attack alongside Marouane Chamakh and Park.

Benayoun started in midfield while Carl Jenkinson continued his rehabilitation from a back injury by featuring at right back.

The was also a return to action for Afobe, who sustained a serious groin injury in the Emirates Cup match against New York Red Bulls in July, although he was named on the bench.

Norwich meanwhile named a young side mainly made up of Academy prospects, although they included six of the side that lost 4-2 at London Colney in November.

Banfield’s side immediately hit their stride and were spraying passes about insouciantly in the early stages, as Benayoun and Arshavin showed their class.

With just five minutes on the clock, Nico Yennaris played a beautifully-weighted ball over the top of the Norwich backline for Arshavin to run on to. The Russian reached the ball just before onrushing goalkeeper David Wooton but his lob drifted just over.

It mattered not as 60 seconds later Arsenal had their lead as Benayoun bought some space in the box with his quick feet his powerful shot struck the near post. The ball flew straight to the feet of Park though, who made no mistake from close range.

The second string were bossing proceedings and with 25 minutes on the clock Park nearly doubled their advantage as he hammered a fiercely-struck free kick just wide.

Chamkh departed on the half-hour mark after a late tackle, with Afobe coming on to replace him. The striker soon had the perfect chance to make a scoring return when Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Arshavin had been felled by Wooton in the area. However his penalty was brilliantly palmed away by the keeper.

The Gunners did double their lead just before half time though, when Arshavin was found by Jenkinson to the right of the area. The Russian appeared to be trying to dig out a cross to the back post but it curled into the net off the post.

Arsenal started the second half just as they had ended the first and within a minute Afobe’s cross to the near post just evaded Park, before Benayoun’s brilliant play set up Arshavin to shoot wide.

Banfield’s side remained firmly in charge and a brilliant bit of interplay saw Oguzhan Ozyakup release Benayoun in the area. The Israeli rounded the keeper but his shot from a tight angle went across the face of goal.

Just before the hour mark they claimed their third as Afobe finished confidently under Wooton to make amends for his earlier missed penalty. Just seven minutes later they had a fourth as Arshavin slotted home from just inside the area following more superb play by Benayoun.

The Israeli was finally rewarded for his magnificent performance in the 87th minute when he dinked the ball over Wooton and into an empty net after being played through by Ozyakup.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3424598/reserves/norwich-res-v-arsenal-res?tab=report

[size=6]Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke set to back Arsene Wenger with £55m transfer budget[/size]

By Ross Jackson

[size=5]The American is set to reaffirm his faith in the Frenchman at a board meeting on Thursday, while discussions will also take place over contract negotiations with Robin van Persie
[/size]


Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke is set to back Arsene Wenger at a board meeting on Thursday, by offering him a £55 million summer transfer budget.

Following the Gunners' recent exit from the FA Cup and their likely elimination from the Champions League, Wenger is set to be boosted by a £55m kitty for the summer transfer window, funded by the club's half-yearly profits that are due to be announced over the coming days

Arsenal currently sit fourth in the Premier League, only ahead of London rivals Chelsea by virtue of goal scored.

Wenger recently described not qualifying for the Champions League as a ‘disaster’, as the club would miss out on a reported £45m.

While Kroenke looks set to reaffirm his belief in Wenger, another man he seems desperate to keep at the Emirates Stadium is Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2013 and Kroenke seems determined to persuade him to stay, with a deal potentially amounting to over £100,000-per-week thought to be on offer.

Other names said to be on the list of potential new deals include Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky and possibly Andrey Arshavin, who has reportedly attracted interest from Anzhi Makhachkala in recent months.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2012/02/22/2921747/arsenal-majority-shareholder-stan-kroenke-set-to-back-arsene

Heard it all before.

This. Any story about such and such owner giving a manager x amount of money for transfers is almost always a load of shit.