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Arsenal board must discuss 'possibilities offered by Alisher Usmanov', says Bob Wilson

Watching on: Usmanov has largely been sidelined by the Arsenal board: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Watching on: Usmanov has largely been sidelined by the Arsenal board: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal’s board meeting next week should include a discussion about “the possibilities offered by Alisher Usmanov”, according to Gunners legend Bob Wilson.

Majority shareholder Stan Kroenke is expected to travel to London this week and attend the FA Cup Final against Chelsea.

The American billionaire’s visit will come days after news first emerged of a £1billion takeover bid from Alisher Usmanov, who owns a 29 per cent stake in Arsenal. The offer was rejected.

After the FA Cup Final Kroenke will attend a board meeting at which manager Arsene Wenger’s future at the club will be decided. Wilson, speaking on the Today programme, believes the Emirates hierarchy should also discuss what Usmanov, who does not have a seat on the board, can bring to Arsenal.

“It should have been out in the open,” Wilson said of Wenger’s prevarication over his intentions for next season. “The board should have told Arsene ‘you must declare this.’

“The two priorities right now, with five days to a Cup Final, are to get a squad together to give the champions Chelsea a tough FA Cup Final and then the most important board meeting for many years.

“It should include the involvement of the major shareholder. That abuse was awful to hear. And [they should discuss] the possibilities offered by Alisher Usmanov, who like [Roman] Abramovich loves his football team and is prepared to invest hugely in Arsenal Football Club.”

The most significant item on Kroenke’s agenda, however, is likely to be whether Wenger signs the two-year contract extension that has been on offer for some time.

Wenger has spent much of the season deflecting questions about his future and made the surprising admission after the 3-1 win over Everton, which was not enough to help Arsenal leapfrog Liverpool or Manchester City, that the debate surrounding him had contributed to the “horrendous psychological environment” around his squad.

“It’s something that I was totally unaware of and it didn’t show at all yesterday,” Wilson said. “I was so proud of the team’s performance yesterday against a very good Everton team. They played for 75 minutes of the 90 down to 10 men. It was a truly outstanding effort. Not much wrong with a side who can do that.

“It answers the questions from ex-players, who should know better and have never managed themselves, about the mentality of the squad and the ability of the coach. It’s an answer to all of them who are getting paid to give very strong opinions.

“There is nothing very much wrong. Arsene is known for creating records. He’s got a new one now, most number of points ever to not be in the top four. It’s no consolation and it’s a costly victory.”