Written by Wenger Boy on Monday, 13 June 2011 13:03

Good day to all you Arsenalistas out there. I trust you are firing on all cannons?

The cannons will certainly be firing later tonight as the annual question and answer session offers those with a stake in AFC a rare chance to bombard Ivan the Terribly Perceived with legitimate questions wrapped in a slightly more prominent layer of legitimate anger.

Obviously, given the past season, there has been a significant clamouring from supporters of all colours, creeds and membership levels to confront the club about what exactly went wrong and what exactly is being done to address this. I think it’s fair to say that there is a strong desire for change amongst most fans and it doesn’t take a genius to work that out...

Cue Alisher.

Mr Usmanov, a.k.a. The Saviour of Arsenal (along with David Dein and Chris Samba), has taken this opportunity to innocently publicise his in-no-way-regurgitated-or-blatantly-populist opinions on the situation at our glorious club:

This is some of what Jesus Usmanov said:

“If the role of a board member is to oversee a trophyless period, while making significant personal profits and asking fans to pay inflation-busting ticket price increases then, no, I would not want to be on the board. If instead it is to try to deliver sustained success, to increase your personal investment in the club, to help develop the commercial position and to ensure the fans have a say in the running of the club then, yes, I think I certainly have something to contribute.”

“There is a widely-held view among most commentators – and one that I agree with – that the club needs to stiffen the defensive spine of the team, with a dominant keeper, strong centre-halves and a powerful defensive midfielder in the mould of Claude Makelele. The Premier League is one of the most competitive in the world and whilst we have consistently challenged for honours, the club needs to develop talent and buy top-class players to win the trophies we all crave. This requires greater investment which, I believe, has been lacking thus far. What however is not clear is whether the board shares this view. For too long they have seemed happy to sanction second, third and fourth as being acceptable, whilst at the same time they are planning to sell their shares.”

Now instead of analysing what he said, the fact that he said it at all (as if it’s better to talk nonsense then to stay silent...Stan) or any of that I’m instead going to present you with a couple of fairly recent quotes from the world of politics.

What I want you to do is work out the similarity between those above and those below:

“As President, I will close Guantanamo, reject the Military Commissions Act and adhere to the Geneva Conventions. Our Constitution and our Uniform Code of Military Justice provide a framework for dealing with the terrorists.”

Or how about:

"We want to abolish tuition fees. We think they're wrong. At a time the economy is submerged in debt, more debt is not the answer to debt."

Did you figure out the similarity? If not then let me explain that the first promise (Barack Obama) and second promise (Nick Clegg) were both made while in OPPOSITION. And, as we all know, tuition fees have in fact gone...up, and Guantanamo Bay remains...open.

Exactly.

What that tells us is that however honest and impeccably straight Mr Usmanov might have been during the interview the fact remains that it is remarkably easy to make promises while acting on them remains beyond your present capabilities. And there is a vast history of just these types of promises being shattered into a million tiny lies as soon as the power to act on them is granted to the person who made them.

It is for this reason that Alison Usmanov can and will say basically whatever he likes now without any immediate repercussions, and the reason that we should take anything that he says with the pinchiest pinch of salt you can possibly conceive of pinching.

For now at least.

One day we might just find out how unmercifully and criminally honest he really is:

http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2007/09/alisher_usmanov/

So while I am not telling you to ignore what Usmanov says I am urging you to consider the wider context before believing him or indeed anyone who has yet to acquire to the power to do what they say.

And on that note I would just like to confirm that as soon as I am elected Queen of Turkey I will immediately a) cure AIDS, b) end world debt and c) provide Wenger with a War Chest so large we would still be able to afford Jordan Henderson in five years time.

Please vote for me.

Thank you,

WB (Don't forget to follow on Twitter)

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Comments (58)

• 13-Jun-2011 13:24 | | Rochester
  

  Mock him all you like, but I'd rather have Usmanov in charge than Kroenke. At least he knows what this club needs and is ready to splash some cash.

• 13-Jun-2011 13:29 | | afclife  - I second that
  

  seems like more or the same this summer, lots of links no action

• 13-Jun-2011 13:34 | | MeanLean
  

  What makes you think that he is willing to 'splash' any cash? Because he said so. Question, why would a wealthy man demand dividends so quickly after buying shares at the club?
  
  He is telling you everything you want to hear and far too many people are willing to lap it all up.
  
  Spot on WB with the article.

• 13-Jun-2011 13:36 | | MeanLean
  

  Oh and haha to 'Mr Usmanov, a.k.a. The Saviour of Arsenal (along with David Dein and Chris Samba)' made me chuckle

• 13-Jun-2011 13:37 | | welshgooner  - Fat twat is not God
  

  Please do not forget he is a self proclaimed Man Scum fan.
  
  Nothing is stopping him putting his money where his mouth is. As second largest share holder he could put money into the transfer pot. So what is stopping him.......
  
  So stop listening to him as the bloody saviour of Arsenal Football Club. It is a smoke screen.

• 13-Jun-2011 14:11 | | The Law
  

  A few decades ago, a young man was making his way to the pinnacle of power in a European nation. He railed against the economic hardships of his time, and swore he had the tools to fix everything. He had his finger on the pulse of the masses, he said the things they all wanted to hear, and they ignored his true motives and voted him into power.
  
  That man was Adolf Hitler. A few million dead Jews and tens of hundreds million other people dead, the world was finally able to rip out that cancer that the German nation visited upon it.
  
  Alisher Usmanov today has his finger on the pulse of the Gooner nation, telling us things we all want to hear. The Board is greedy, ticket price hikes are unfair, our commercial deals are poor and lacked foresight, and he would not want to serve on the board of a trophyless club.
  
  "Bang on!" Gooners cry. "Let him in, hand the treacherous board over to us that we may spit and roast them over slow fires!" "Usmanov is a Gooner like us! He feels our pain!" "Fuck Silent Stan and his gutless manager, Whingeing Wenger!"
  
  In the crush of the mob, reason is lost. For instance, if the Board was greedy as Usmanov sugggests, why didn't they choose to sell their shares to him at the much higher price he was (and is still) willing to pay? Why would they turn down his tens of billions in favour of the modestly (by comparison) wealthier Kroenke? Doesn't quite fit the image of a greedy bunch of fellows, does it?
  
  Plus, at the time the sponsorship deals that are being castigated today were signed, they were hailed as being easily the most lucrative of their era. No one else had any company willing to pay over £100 million cash just to have its name emblazoned on their shirts for a few years. Our deal showed the rest of the world that such things were possible, and provided us with the badly needed funds to construct our splendid new home.
  
  To look back now and decry the sponsorships as "poor" is the same as saying Alexander Graham Bell was a moron for not being able to build a BlackBerry in his era. It is to spit in the face of every pioneer in history, to curse as fools those who went before and smoothed the way for others to follow.
  
  Yes, ticket price hikes in the current economic climate are tough to swallow, and yes they have played on the fact that unlike other brands, we can't simply switch alleigance to another product because it's cheaper. But, look around you once again. Almost everyone else has increased their ticket prices to the same degree we did. And there are no loud protests at other clubs.
  
  We all want trophies, but the fact of the matter is any true Gooner invited on to the board of the Arsenal would never say "Win a trophy first, and then I'll consider it." No, we'd bite your hand off before you could change your mind. Because we'd want to be on the inside, to do whatever we could, no matter how little, to improve the team we love so dearly.
  
  Wenger Boy, Obama made those speeches because he thought he could do what he said. In reality, no countries are lining up to take the inmates there off his hands, seeing as they are considered some of the world's most dangerous terrorists. What would you propose he do instead, release these daemons to wreak havoc upon his people?
  
  As for Clegg, the speed with which he abandoned all his stated principles showed one thing and one thing only: that he is in love with power. Labour and the Lib Dems are closer in principle than the Lib Dems and Tories yet, Clegg chose to ally himself with the latter. He is desperate to portray himself as being capable of wielding power and has accordingly ditched the leftist principles he once held so dear. And it certainly does not bother him that he may well have to rely on Tory votes to keep his seat come the next general election.
  
  In that, Usmanov and Clegg are much closer than Usmanov and Obama. i agree that it is easier to speak out against the establishment while in opposition, but ask yourself this: If all other shareholders who've sold shares in the last few weeks except the board were a bunch of Arsenal lovers and true Gooners, why did they refuse to sell to Kroenke, but accept Usmanov's higher offer?

• 13-Jun-2011 14:19 | | Wenger Boy
  

  But how do you know that? The whole point of my article is to illustrate that what he says now might not be what he would actually do were he to gain power.
  
  Sure it sounds great. But he hasn't done any of it yet.

• 13-Jun-2011 14:22 | | TrueGooner
  

  What makes you think he won't? The Fact he's Russian so you think he's a crock and telling a lie. So anybody from Russia or the Eastern block is a crock and has no good intentions in them. I guess Abrahimovich lied to the chelsea fans when he first took over. I guess the Shiek (I know he's Arab) lied to city fans when he took over. The only rich people that speak the through are those from USA and England. Give the Man the benefit of a doubt instead of calling him a crock who won't do anything to help arsenal. His assessment of the situation is true regradless of his intentions. If the Fans did not start getting vocals toward the end of the season, We probably won't see the club trying to buy so much. The Fact that they haven't even announce one decent signings yet, says a lot. Even the players who defended Arsene so much no longer has faith in the club. If RVP start talking about not seeing us winning next season, you better be worry. For me Cesc and Nasri can talk, but when RVP start talking, I get scared cause I respect his loyalty to Arsenal FC.

• 13-Jun-2011 14:22 | | Exo  - Your now comparing Usmanov to Hitler?
  

  AFC

• 13-Jun-2011 14:40 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Thank you for such a long and thought out response, although I am sorry to say I firmly disagree with you on your assessment of Obama, who I consider to be as consumed by the presidency as Clegg is by the deputy leadership.
  
  However, much as I fully appreciate your opinions on the matter and welcome political debate, I would prefer to keep discussions on this site to Arsenal issues only so I will leave it there.

• 13-Jun-2011 15:04 | | plusnomcleture  - What a dumb article.
  

  Talking politics? you exposed yourself as a dumb ass literally. Tell us exactly just ONE thing what did usmanov do that's wrong...especially AGAINST the club? His interest in Arsenal FC is forbidden...? Oh, right, you're living in Hitler's Germany i think.
  
  You cant accept the truth – even when it’s spoken by someone you dislike for no good reason. Look, not that I like usmanov but IF Kroenke is that good, why did the Board resisted him in the 1st place? Yes, he owns FIVE sports clubs and on that count, should be very experienced..but is your views based, like that of PHW and gang, on MONEY rather than winning titles..BUT why has NO ONE said anything - even Kroenko - about the 6 failed and barren years UNTIL and after Usmanov opened his mouth?? Ha ha! You try convincing Cesc and Nasri, ah yes! even silly Denilson that they should be happy at Arsenal because it is financially rich and stable. (Wonder if cesc is leaving because of lack of money here?).
  
  I dont care about usmanov but what he said, he said the truth, and what the fans have been feeling about for 5 – 6 yerars.. and NO ONE had dared to speak publicly, not the greedy Board.
  
  Also…it’s anybody’s opinion of what usmanov is really like ..but if he has committed anything wrong, let the law deal with him.
  
  BUT IF ONLY ARSENE WENGER THE GREAT MANAGER IS ACCOUNTABLE TO USMANOV, YOU DONT EVEN NEED 6 YEARS BEFORE ARSENE WENGER STARTTED TO PEE IN HIS PANTS FOR WINNING NOTHING.

• 13-Jun-2011 15:13 | | mr h
  

  Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov (born 9 September 1953, Chust, Namangan Province, Uzbek SSR, USSR) is a Muslim Russian businessman ofUzbek origin. According to the 2011 edition of Forbes magazine, the oligarch is one of Russia's richest men, with a fortune estimated at US$17.7 billion, and the world's 35th richest person.
  
  
  Usmanov was arrested and imprisoned in 1980. The website centrasia.ru reports that he and a friend - the son of the deputy head of the Uzbek KGB - were convicted in August 1980 by the Military Tribunal of the Turkestan Military District for "complicity in an official's receiving bribes and extortion" but was rehabilitated by Uzbekistan's Supreme Court in July 2000, which ruled that the case had been "fabricated".
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alisher_Usmanov
  
  Mr Usmanov was imprisoned for various offences under the old Soviet regime. We wish to make it clear our client did not commit any of the offences with which he was charged. He was fully pardoned after President Mikhail Gorbachev took office. All references to these matters have now been expunged from police records . . . Mr Usmanov does not have any criminal record.
  
  Let me make it quite clear that Alisher Usmanov is a criminal. He was in no sense a political prisoner, but a gangster and racketeer who rightly did six years in jail. The lawyers cunningly evoke “Gorbachev”, a name respected in the West, to make us think that justice prevailed. That is completely untrue.
  
  Usmanov is just a criminal whose gangster connections with one of the World’s most corrupt regimes got him out of jail. He then plunged into the “privatisation” process at a time when gangster muscle was used to secure physical control of assets, and the alliance between the Russian Mafia and Russian security services was being formed.
  Gazprom has also been the tool which Putin has used to attack internal democracy and close down the independent media in Russia. Gazprom has bought out – with the owners having no choice – the only independent national TV station and numerous rgional TV stations, several radio stations and two formerly independent national newspapers. These have been changed into slavish adulation of Putin. Usmanov helped accomplish this through Gazprom. The major financial newspaper,Kommersant, he bought personally. He immediately replaced the editor-in-chief with a pro-Putin hack, and three months later the long-serving campaigning defence correspondent, Ivan Safronov, mysteriously fell to his death from a window.
  I reported back in 2002 or 2003 in an Ambassadorial top secret telegram to the Foreign Office that Usmanov was the most likely favoured successor of President Karimov as totalitarian leader of Uzbekistan. I also outlined the Gazprom deal (before it happened) and the present by Usmanov to Putin (though in Jastrzebski’s name) of half of Mapobank, a Russian commercial bank owned by Usmanov. I will never forget the priceless reply from our Embassy in Moscow. They said that they had never even heard of Alisher Usmanov, and that Jastrzebski was a jolly nice friend of the Ambassador who would never do anything crooked.
  
  Sadly, I expect the football authorities will be as purblind. Football now is about nothing but money, and even Arsenal supporters – as tight-knit and homespun a football community as any – can be heard saying they don’t care where the money comes from as long as they can compete with Chelsea.
  
  I fear that is very wrong. Letting as diseased a figure as Alisher Usmanov into your club can only do harm in the long term.
  
  
  http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2007/09/alisher_usmanov/
  
  A nasty phenomenon is getting nastier. Usmanov is far worse than either Al-Fayed or Abramovitch. Russia, over the last few years, has seen the systematic destruction of what had been a burgeoning free media, as a company called Gazprom has bought up dissenting news outlets, changed their editorial line to one singing the praises of a the ex-KGB man in charge of the country, and fired inconvenient journalists and editors. Well, fired the ones who didn’t mysteriously fall out of windows. And Gazprom is owned by – Alisher Usmanov.
  
  http://danhardie.wordpress.com/
  
  That was all found after a relatively brief skimming of the internet.
  
  Try find similar stuff on Silent Stan.
  
  Where there is money there is dirt... Where there is oil money there is more dirt.
  
  Stan comes from sport, makes sport make money.
  
  Usmanov???
  
  "I fear that is very wrong. Letting as diseased a figure as Alisher Usmanov into your club can only do harm in the long term."

• 13-Jun-2011 15:18 | | TrueGooner
  

  How do you know he won't live up to his word. There is no factual evidence in your article where Usmanov has made a promise and did not live up to it. He offered to give the club some money last summer to help with transfer, but it was turn down. You comparing what he said with promises made by Obama is highly irrelevant. It is not the same thing. If Usmanov was the owener of Arsenal he would do what he wants and chooses to spend or not to. Obama as the president of USA can not do just what he wants. He has to answer to congress and the American people. He tried to close gitmo but it hasn't been easy for him. Congress won't allow those type of prisoner on US soil, and most states government do not want that type of attention on their state. Most countries are refusing to accept these type of prisoners. Obama did not lie about Gitmo. He has tried to live up to most of his promises but it is not as easy when u have congress and their special interest to contend with. Until you provide proof that Usmanov is lying about his intentions, you article is just a baseless accusation of the man's character. Atleast what he said is true and you and I both know he is correct.

• 13-Jun-2011 15:28 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Excellent research. Thank you for that.
  
  It's so obvious he's a crook. But people are blinded by his promises. I don't want him anywhere near Arsenal.

• 13-Jun-2011 15:35 | | Iron Man
  

  You may have some valid points but I stopped reading when you compared Usmanov to Hilter. How utterly disrespectful to the millions that died at the hands of the Nazis. You've completely lost perspective.

• 13-Jun-2011 15:38 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Not saying he's lying just saying history suggests you should treat the promises of people in opposition with a pinch of salt.
  
  Whether or not you believe him is completely up to you.

• 13-Jun-2011 15:42 | | mr h
  

  The Great Resource Grab that developed as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union gave rise to the 'legitimization' of organized crime bosses. Gasprom is perhaps the 'Cosa Nostra' of Russian natural resources.
  
  If you do just a little digging, you will see how unfit this man is to be anywhere near this club.
  
  "Sadly, I expect the football authorities will be as purblind. Football now is about nothing but money..."
  
  This man is looking to Arsenal as a massive washing machine to launder his dirty money and make himself untouchable in Russia by having the security blanket of a brown nosing British media.

• 13-Jun-2011 15:56 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Usmanov is not as bad as Hitler but he is accused of rape and linked to various other harmful acts, whether directly or indirectly.
  
  Probably not the best comparison but Usmanov is a monster nonetheless.

• 13-Jun-2011 15:59 | | Iron Man
  

  I like most of your stuff WB but I think it's pretty flimsy to compare Usmanov to Obama/Clegg. For those two examples, you can probably still find millions of examples throughout history of opposition leaders who HAVE delivered on their spin and promises.
  
  Just like yourself, I don't want such a questionable figure anywhere near the club and I am in no way prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. Equally, I don't want a mysterious figure who refuses to state his intentions either way as the majority shareholder.
  
  But like I said yesterday, Usmanov is demonstrating he has his finger on the pulse and making an effort to draw fans in. Not everyone is going to know, and in most cases, wont even care about his background. If he's promising to take Arsenal to the next level, that's all a lot of people will be concerned with. Look at it from a football point of view and you will see exactly why people will be 'taken in' by him.

• 13-Jun-2011 16:03 | | Iron Man
  

  I was unaware that Umanov is planning mass genocide if he gains full control of the club. It is an irrelevant comparison and horribly ill-judged. This is football in 2011. Not Nazi Germany.

• 13-Jun-2011 16:10 | | Petreson  - Usmanov......
  

  It seems you didnt understand what Usmanov actually said.. He didnt said commercial sponsorships were 'poor' as you said..he didnt even criticised the board for the contractual negotiations made in the past.. He is talking about 'simple commercial logic'... Actually it seems you are one of Usmanov haters.. Comparing him with Hitler shows your lack of knowledge on what you are saying.. Comparing Hitlers era and this era is a mistake...a lot of things have canged.. The problem with you is that you're saying something while you are not thinking... Think first...

• 13-Jun-2011 16:21 | | Wenger Boy
  

  I see what you're getting at but I don't really consider it flimsy. There are just people who believe him 100% and all I'm saying is reserve judgement until he can do something about it.
  
  I'm not calling him a liar. I don't know if he's lying. No-one does. He genuinely could be the best thing for Arsenal right now.
  
  I'm just urging people to consider the context.
  
  It's not a complicated point. Probably just wrapped up in complicated language.

• 13-Jun-2011 16:28 | | TrueGooner
  

  Spot on Petreson. I don't know how the writer toke Usmanov statement of Arsenal not maximizing the value of the the sponsorship deals as calling the deal rubbish. Yes the might be getting good sum of money from the deals, but is it the maximum value? If we had won a few trophies will it help in the renegotiation of increasing the value of these deals? When the club becomes the laughing stoke of the sports world and can't attract known player will it hurt our hands in these negotiations? I say YES to these two questions.

• 13-Jun-2011 16:31 | | TrueGooner
  

  RVP was accused of a similar thing. I guess he shouldn't be playing for arsenal. Right?

• 13-Jun-2011 16:33 | | richie2
  

  Why has he not already given the money then? There is nothing to stop him.
  Have a quick google search on the guy and you'll see that he's got what some would call a checkered past to say the least and lets not forget that when Arseblog posted some very simply found information on him his lawyers dive all over it like Rooney at a granny based knocking shop.
  You can't compare him with any other sugar daddy's.

• 13-Jun-2011 16:39 | | Old Gooner  - Bring on the Usmanov
  

  Bring him on, for to long the club Directors have been rewarding themselves for poor performances on the field. At least he seems to want what most of us do and that's a strong winning team !
  
  Come Alisher !!

• 13-Jun-2011 16:45 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Fair point.

• 13-Jun-2011 16:53 | | Wenger Boy
  

  It doesn't really make a difference to my point whether or not his claims turn out to be true. There will be countless examples of promises being kept and countless examples of promises being broken, but the fact remains that it is easier to make promises when in opposition.
  
  It's an age old tactic.

• 13-Jun-2011 17:24 | | TrueGooner
  

  So then we can conclude that the article is about your fear of Usmanov and not actually what he said. The thing is I don't know either Stan or Usmanov long term plan for the club, so I am not going to pit one above the other. Maybe the board got stan to agree to something that is why they sold to him, I don't know them. I do think it is unfair to think that Usmanov has bad intention because he looks like a wolf and give all the good praise to Stan cause he looks like a sheep. The thing is we need to stop saying Usmanov needs live up to his promise. He can't do any good for the club as no one will accept anything from him. The promise I will hold him for is if he will sell his shares and under what circumstances. After all Arsenal FC is business, let us remember this fact no matter how we love this our darling, precious, and most beautiful woman in the world of a club.

• 13-Jun-2011 17:29 | | TrueGooner
  

  He did, but your board refused to accept it. I guess we only Google the negative past. Oh well I guess once a sinner always a sinner I guess.

• 13-Jun-2011 18:00 | | Vlad
  

  chelsea and man city history suggests he's not lying. please don't compare politics to football. I hate to think that someday it will be the same

• 13-Jun-2011 18:01 | | Vlad
  

  he is not at the board yet.

• 13-Jun-2011 18:01 | | mr h
  

  Usmanov is undoubtedly a man who knows how to get what he wants. He also knows the power of the internet, here is a man who has recently taken a huge piece of the facebook pie.
  
  "People who flirt on Facebook – and why else join – may be less than enamoured by the fact that a $200 million stake has been bought by a company of which the biggest shareholder is a major criminal convicted of … blackmail.
  
  Gangster and racketeer Alisher Usmanov was jailed in the Soviet Union when he finally overreached himself and attempted to blackmail a Jewish KGB officer."
  http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2009/05/convicted_black/
  
  Clearly this man has limited scruples. LIMITED. He also knows how to use the internet to his advantage. His quotes that have been released are a brilliant piece of propaganda. He has effectively attained the support of many an Arsenal fan.
  
  He has clearly put together a team of researchers who have reviewed the common gripes on Arsenal blogs and edited together a highlight reel to spout off to the press. He does have experience in developing marketing/propaganda campaigns (He is also a co-owner of the media holding which comprises 7TV and Muz-TV federal television channels and 33 regional TV broadcasting stations. Besides this, Alisher Usmanov personally owns the Kommersant and Sekret Firmy Publishing Houses, shares in the company SUP, which controls Internet website Livejournal.com and internet newspaper «Gazeta.ru».)
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alisher_Usmanov
  
  
  He doesn't seek to heal these divisions, he seeks to take advantage of these decisions. He is only looking to make a sound economic investment. Not that Mr Kroenke is not looking to do that himself, but just look at the two track records.
  
  Many "FANS" who come out in support of Mr Usmanov MAY just be employees of his. That may be a shot in the dark, but think about it: it's a great strategy to unsettle a club by getting at its supporters and then get the supporters on your side by releasing those self same comments.
  
  I for one would not be surprised if employees of Mr Usmanov pretend to be Arsenal fans and post divisive comments and or blogs.
  
  (or maybe all the years of reefer abuse have finally made me paranoid.)

• 13-Jun-2011 18:26 | | TrueGooner
  

  I hope u are not speaking of Fans like myself. By the way I live in the US and is no way affiliated to Red and White holdings. The problem with most arsenal fans is that, if you talk against the status quo they call you something else. We are saying Usmanov is an angel, we are agreeing with his assessment of the situation at the club. He is spot on. They charge heavy ticket prices without any justification and lack of ambition. Henry said Arsenal had no ambition to win so he left. Cesc is feeling the same way along with other players. If you say other club is increasing their prices, I say well they are at-least trying to strengthen where needed. Can you say the same of us?

• 13-Jun-2011 18:31 | | mr h
  

  I was saying it in rather a 'tongue in cheek' fashion... It really wasn't aimed at anyone. Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea.

• 13-Jun-2011 19:00 | | Wenger Boy
  

  The core point of this article doesn't even have anything to do with a fear of Usmanov, although I'll admit having one.
  
  It only has to do with believing the promises of a man who has no way of backing them up. As I mentioned in the article and comments section a number of times I am simply preaching wariness.
  
  People take what he says as gospel when it clearly isn't. Whether he is being truthful you cannot deny he has something to gain by being populist and having the fans on board, as would anyone in his position.
  
  It is simply worth putting a context around his quotes.

• 13-Jun-2011 19:28 | | Man United Killer
  

  Thank you for your point.Took the words right out of my mouth.People are so judgemental.Can someone tell me which Rich man is not criticized for his riches?They are either crooks,drug dealers,criminals or something horrible.Some people actually work hard for their money.But no..not on this website..half of the people who contribute to this site owe their loyalty to the owner of the site and AW and not Arsenal.Does Arsenal FC know what kind of jobs some fans do.some fans do drugs,others engage in human trafficking and the like but yet we are all for Arsenal.
  It's a lot easier to judge from outside the box especially for a man who we know nothing of.He could be what we need or dont need but why dwell on the negatives just because of what the media has written.yet day in day out the media is slated for criticizing Wenger.Its this same media who are writing about Usmanov.Some fans are jokers!

• 13-Jun-2011 19:30 | | Man United Killer
  

  Google search? Why dont you google and find out how garbage Wegner is.You only choose to believe what you want.Thats richie for you.Its shameful that you base your arguements on google.If this google speaks of how rubbish Arsenal are,you will object to it.

• 13-Jun-2011 19:39 | | TrueGooner
  

  Wenger Boy.... Weariness of something is indeed the fear of it, so your article is indeed about fear of Usmanov since your are preaching the weariness of him. Your article has no fact to back up Usmanov not keeping promise. It is based on assumptions that he is bad for Arsenal and that what he says Arsenal fans will take it as gospel. The assumption that a vocal fan as myself will take his word as gospel is far from the truth. Most of us did not ask the board or Wenger to buy a hundred million dollar player, but rather to buy capable players where we need them the most. They refuse for six years. If Arsenal was a country Wenger and the board would be gone. Usmanov maybe what he is, but if he's telling the truth, then he is. Let's not make it out of what it's not. If all that has been posted here is true of him that get's what he wants, then I say well maybe he will get the players we need. Isn't that what the supporters been crying for? someone who will buy what we need? Contrary to your view he will turn out to live up to his promise. Isn't that what you want WengerBoy? an owner that will live up to his word.

• 13-Jun-2011 19:46 | | TrueGooner
  

  "If this google speaks of how rubbish Arsenal are,you will object to it."
  lol... at Man United Killer. I should have thought of that...

• 13-Jun-2011 20:29 | | sapman
  

  is to oversee a trophyless period, while making significant personal profits and asking fans to pay inflation-busting ticket price increases then,
  
  
  i suspected it all along but now its confirmed more than ever.
  
  
  david dein and usmanov are the ones who have turned england and the media against arsene wenger and arsenal by trying to "hit" directly on the "customers" feelings and pocket with b*llcr@p about trophyless years.
  
  sorry dave...you should have stayed put...kroenke..your first proposal..got in ..but you couldnt wait could you ? and now youre damaging arsenal trying to get back in?
  
  pi55 off you traitor

• 13-Jun-2011 22:23 | | sapman
  

  very well said indeed.
  
  and reefers have nothing to do with it

• 14-Jun-2011 01:19 | | richie  - Learn to read Muk!
  

  I disagree with you Muk whenever you spout your Wenger out rubbish because we both know until you do some proper research you'll never be able to name a manager who'd do a better job than Arsene. As I recall your last offering was Porto's manager because he has a better defensive record than Mourinho. Which was the pundits opinion that week and came straight from the free newspapers. Plus it wasn't even me who posted it was Richie 2. However as your a fellow "Gooner"? Let the rest of us into your secret please, if we don't wanna Google something which search engine should we use?

• 14-Jun-2011 01:49 | | richie  - Spot on Law
  

  Your critical analysis of the situation is unfortunately what far too many of our own are unable to do. They remind me of circus animals jumping through hoops whenever the ring master cracks his whip. Whatever the pundits & jurno's say thats what they repeat. If our own aren'y smart enough to know when they are being played there isn't much hope for them, and there's little point arguing with the ignorant because you'll only decend to their level where they'll beat you because they are more expirenced at that level.

• 14-Jun-2011 02:13 | | richie  - Great research Mr H
  

  Some of our own who aren't known for their intelegence will still be saying give Usmanov a chance because all they can see is his $$££€€ which is all they want to see.
  
  Naturally no sane Gooner should or would want him at our club.

• 14-Jun-2011 02:26 | | richie  - Morality
  

  As I predicted many of our own are tottally amoral they don't care where the money comes from as long as Usmanov has money and uses it to buy players. The want success they don't care how they get it.

• 14-Jun-2011 02:31 | | Man United Killer
  

  Hahahahahaha...Dude,have you lost your freaking memory?lol..wow,this is starting to get sad!Me? named Villas Boas because he has a better defensive record than Mourinho?hahaha..For crying out loud I didnt even mention Mourinho.I did mention Boas but let me tell you the reason why I say you are telling a big fat lie...I dont even know Porto's defensive record.Oh My God...Richie,by all means try to quote me on my past but please DONT LIE!Why would I want Mourinho?I dont even want to go into the reasons that I dont want Mourinho.Let me refresh your ailing memory..I mentioned Rijkaard,Hiddink and Boas.I am losing the urge to keep typing the same thing over and over again cos you dont seem to have a memory at all.
  By all means its okay to use google..but just so you know its not the only search engine.My point was that you are ridiculously selective especially when sources you seem to trust speak the truth about your delusional manager.

• 14-Jun-2011 02:34 | | Man United Killer  - thanks Richie..spec and log concept you see!
  

  ...And thanks for the advise my friend..I will learn to read..as soon as you learn to use your memory...I'm assuming that you have one.

• 14-Jun-2011 10:27 | | richie
  

  Muk you mentioned Porrto's manager as your prefered choice to replace Arsene Wenger based on what exactly? As I recall you said he was full of new idea's. That same week the free news papers like metro standard etc were saying. Porto's manager has a better defensive record than Mourinho and because of that record he's expected to be promoted to manage a top premier league club. I know, I know, you didn't read any of that and repeat it, you researched it for yourself.
  
  And yes you also asked for Rijkard based on his managerial record at international level. Which I pointed out I considered as lousy considering the magnificient players he had at his disposal. Even you would have found it hard not to pick a winning team from that Dutch squad. I also said to you that since his move to the Turkish side Galatasary where there isn't big money to spend he's done nothing, we are still waiting to see how his team plays in the CL qualification rounds.
  
  Hiddink? Also a ex Dutch manager also a local rival ex manager. I also explained my reservations that he's not particularly loyal i.e. he's mercenary he leave's as soon as a better offer arrives. So you thought I'd forgot Porto's managers name? No Muk I couldn't forget even if I forgot, because I have done what 90% of the population does I'd have Googled it. Ask who Porto's manager is and up comes
  the man with "All the new Idea's"? name. Its Simples.

• 14-Jun-2011 10:35 | | richie  - Google it, its full of facts. Mr H does.
  

  He was and is Porto's manager Muk! Did that fact pass you by? I stated fact. Richie 2 wasn't me also a fact that seemed to pass you by.

• 14-Jun-2011 11:25 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Weariness and fear are different things.
  
  I don't say Usmanov won't back his promises, only that he can promise what he wants when not in power and to take that into account.
  
  I also, as a side issue, do not want this man to be part of our club because I hold certain values and Usmanov stands in direct opposition to these.
  
  Success in football is important to me but there are more important things in this world.

• 15-Jun-2011 11:23 | | sapman
  

  The want success they don't care how they get it.
  
  WHY SHOULD THEY CARE ????
  
  THEY HAVE CHELSEA CITY AND MANUTD SETTING THE EXAMPLE OF HOW CLUBS SHOULD BE RUN ...WITH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF LOSES PER YEAR ....
  
  PLUS THEY HAVE THE WONDERFUL MR ARSENAL (DAVID DEIN) WHO ONLY WANTS WHATS BEST FOR ARSENAL THATS WHY HE SOLD HIS SHARES FOR 75 MILLION
  
  AND THEN YOUVE GOT AN ARMY OF IDIOTS IN MEDIA WHO TAUNT OUR FANS ABOUT @AMBITION@ ...LOL ....
  
  
  i have said it many times in the past and i will repeat it ...the english arsenal fans have lost the plot and have their heads screwed by media and rivals taunting. its no coincidence that the most logical arsenal fans are arsenal fans who dont have to deal with the daily mockery englands finest do to arsenal.
  
  it is unreal and pathetic at the same time to listen to gloryseekers talking about ambition and trophies in a period of transition forgetting that arsenal went 40 years with only a league double to show for it ..and 16 years with only a league cup to show for it and guess what ..they didnt have a stadiumt o repay back then yet they were never a club that challenged for honours year in year out
  
  the same idiots who want to talk about ambition and spending...react when arsene does not improve nasri;s wages but if arsene ups nasris wages and the increase is reflected on the ticket prices they will moan again.
  
  
  the uada;s are out in force and like someone said correctly whatever the manager or the club does they get critisised...even if they win the league people will complain that it could have happened sooner. NO IT cant happen sooner..cause even if we had won it two years ago or this year it wouldnt last..it would have been a firework.. out of the ordinary. arsenal spends max 15 million per summer ...our rivals pay tent imes that..yet we are always there whether we field eboues or walcotts .

• 15-Jun-2011 11:45 | | sapman
  

  if you put all their complaints down and analyse them one by one you will see that they havent thought it out correctly.
  
  they use the trophyless period of only 6 years and think they have something on wenger ? that arguement goes out the window the minute youmention them the previous periods of arsenal being trophyless.. you see any of them replying to such FACTS ...no they divert elsewhere
  
  then they talk about money...as if they are accaountants inside the club and know what money comes from where and where it goes. that in itself is ridiculous. i do not profess to know how the finances of chelsea or uniteds or nike;s or coca cola;s work..so can they know about arsenal?
  
  they say that the club has admitted many times in the past that money is there ..yet they dont realise that a club must give 'diplomatic' replies. they were screaming about adebayor money and kolo;s but it was proved that wenger was right not to spend any fo it as they used it to cover holes
  
  they say the club shows no ambition. which is so false i wonder if theyre watching football at all. arsenal has just built a stadium and because of that investment they don not have the funds to compete for the TOP WORLD CLASS PLAYERS. in order to win the premier league you need characters. in this modern age the characters that can win you the epl cost so much money that you either forget about it or you work with what you have. how on earth people can get mad at wenger for doing hi best with the sh*t that is available to him when he is competing directly with teams who can afford players in their roster at 180-250k per week ?
  
  if anything it proves that wenger has managed to make his rivals overspend year after year only to marginally beat his inexpereinced youngsters...wenger with his highly sophisticated and technical football has forced his rivals to spend and spend and spend some more just to beat his children who cant shave yet.
  
  instead of the arsenal fans showing pride for such a feat they look at it completely different.
  
  instead of congratulating their manager and players for being able to compete at such levels against such gigantic opponents they turn against him....lol
  
  its like wathcing your father b*sting his "ss to build you a new home and you the spoilt son turning against him for not buying you a playstation3. that is the amount of disrespect these so called true arsenal fans show towards the manager who made their club what it is today.
  
  the reality is that when you sit down and talk football seriously...they cant reply back cause they know that wenger is right and they know that wenger is doing what is right for the club but becuase they are egoistic trolls with a chip on the shoulders and because they have managed many clubs in ther life they think they pass judgement on one of the games greatest ever professionals. so what is left is basically their EMOTIONAL FRUSTRATION and no logic whatsoever.

• 15-Jun-2011 11:51 | | sapman
  

  which mug amoing arsenal fans seriously believed that arsenal would be winning titles after investing 450 million ona new stadium ?
  
  
  whcih mug among arsenal fans thought that children with no expereince would win titles of a 33 y.o giggs or a 30 y.o lampard and drogba?
  
  which mug among the arsenal fans thought that when wenger asked for aptience he meant 5 years and 6 months
  
  
  which mug among the arsenal fans doesnt grasp the concept of long term planning
  
  which mug among arsenal fans dares compare arsenal to barcelona and feeling sad that we havent reached them? barcelona has had johan fkn cruyff there setting the standards the last FORTY fkn years gentlemen...plus they are barcelona .....and not some sh*tty club from north london which was packed with alcoholics which wenger transformed into a global powerhouse....
  
  ignorants fools and bloody myopic..............thast what arsenal fans are today.
  
  and yes it is wenger;s fault......he did spoil you after all ..and you thought that vieiras and pires and henrys grow in trees did you ?

• 17-Jun-2011 01:00 | | richie  - Our Stevie Wonderful Fans
  

  Sapman I loved your rant! But then I have to agree they've had it coming! So many of our own give Mr Magoo a bad name with their short sightedness.

• 21-Jun-2011 09:00 | | what he said
  

  I see a lot of idiots in this whole thread. Let me clear this up once and for all (hopefully someone reads):
  
  1) This article is only warning people to take more caution to a person's promise.
  
  Believing in Usmanov's word 100% is a logical fallacy in itself. Just look it up on Google or Wikipedia. It literally, 'begs the question'. For example, if Billy said he didn't kill anyone, would you believe him? No, because he can be wrong (in that he didn't notice he killed anyone), or he can lie. In this case, it is much the latter response that is appropriate to doubt Usmanov
  
  1a) And please don't pull out the "How do you know" questions. Frankly, it's retarded. In the same manner, I can ask you: How do you know Usmanov will deliver on his words? So it goes both way idiots.
  
  1b) There is little point in slamming the comparison of politics and football because IT IS NOT ABOUT THE TWO. The premise is very simply on THE POSSIBLY FALSE PROMISES OF OPPOSITION LEADERS. If we were comparing politics to football, we'd be going haywire on stuff like state policies compared to ticket pricings and whatever the fuck don't make sense. And comparing Hitler to Usmanov is not unthinkable, because at the moment their situations are very similar.
  
  What a lot of you idiots fail to realize is that the writer of that comparison did not literally mean Usmanov will kill millions of Jews (For God's sake I facepalmed so hard at that), he means that, similar to how Hitler's rise to power contributed to something that is blatantly and conventionally-agreed as bad, Usmanov can do likewise. Maybe he will rise to power, and do things that can cause harm to the club. Like, I don't know, an overly-ageing squad? Huge debts? Huge wages? The sacking of Wenger?
  
  1c) Wenger is a good manager with firm beliefs. He kind of embodies Arsenal, and is a symbol today. Can you imagine the Arsenal side o 2008/2009 finishing in the top 3 right after Flamini left and no major reinforcements were made? They had to make do with an injured RvP, a Denilson and lots of other underachievers. That in itself is a managerial feat worth looking at.
  
  2) Stop looking at money all the time.
  
  Some of the commenters here are bumbling idiots. They argue that fans shouldn't argue about the amount of money and where they come from. They argue that we should follow Chelsea, MU and Barca, and they are morons.
  
  Looking at their debt, it seems FAIRLY OBVIOUS on a financial level that we are better off than them. Look at Chelsea. If you tell us to follow Chelsea's models, I certainly would not be happy with an ageing squad, a huge debt and overpriced wages. Sadly, I am not a bandwagon-jumping moron like some of you.
  
  The only place for debate here is our sponsorship deals. Don't get what I mean? Look up the Swiss Ramble and his words on Arsenal's sponsorship deals compared to MU or Barca.
  
  3) "which mug among the arsenal fans doesnt grasp the concept of long term planning " -- exactly that.
  
  4) A reply to a post
  
  TrueGooner
  "What makes you think he won't? The Fact he's Russian so you think he's a crock and telling a lie. So anybody from Russia or the Eastern block is a crock and has no good intentions in them."
  
  Retards like you who LOVE to pull out the stupidest of straw man and ad hominem arguments make me wonder how Arsenal is being represented by its fans within the online football community. Jesus, I swear I worry about the future of Arsenal with immature comments like this.

• 21-Jun-2011 11:49 | | sapman
  

  TAKE A BOW
  
  make me wonder how Arsenal is being represented by its fans within the online football community.
  
  
  by a bunch of muppets who think they can pass judgment on professionals like wenger .
  
  
  its like you and me going up to spielberg and doubting his filmmaking ability .....we are of course scholars of the New York Film Acedemy with master degrees at Berkleys and have won multiple oscars therefore our opinion counts more than that useless director steven spielberg ..just find me website where i can lecture steve george and martin on how to make movies

• 22-Jun-2011 17:17 | | Don
  

  Which mug would think we would go from being the Invincibles to a 4th place team who cant even win the tin pot cup.Which mug would think we would go from having great players like Vieira Bergkamp,Pires and Henry to shite like Diaby Denilson Eboue Bender Rosicky Almunia Squillaci Koscielny.Take a look in the mirror my friend that mug is you

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