UCL: Arsenal v FC Sevilla: Preview

19:45 UK Arsenal - FC Sevilla

Manager Arsene Wenger maintained it was business as usual today ahead of Arsenal's Champions League clash with Sevilla despite the news Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov has increased his shareholding in the club.

The purchase - which was announced this morning to the Stock Exchange - makes Usmanov's investment company, Red and White Holdings Limited, the club's second-highest shareholder behind Danny Fiszman.

Despite the continued speculation, this latest move is likely to lead to a formal takeover and the possible return of former vice-chairman David Dein, who left the club last season after a rift with the board over the role of American investor Stan Kroenke, the Gunners boss insists nothing has changed in terms of his day-to-day job.

``I am responsible for the results at the club and not for the rest,'' said Wenger, who earlier this month agreed a new three-year deal with Arsenal.

``People will buy and sell shares or not want to sell shares only if a club is doing well.

``My job is to make sure the club does well.''

Wenger insisted: ``I am not concerned about a Russian takeover I am concerned about tomorrow's game. It will not disrupt anything.

``As we said many times, the shares are 50% inside the board and 50% outside the board. That will not change anything.''

Wenger has an excellent working relationship with the current board, which proved pivotal in his decision to stay at the club he has transformed over the past decade.

The Arsenal manager sees no reason to believe that will change.

``What is important to me is that the board have faith in me and let me to work like I want to work, support me when I want support and give the feeling to the outside that there is unity inside,'' said the Frenchman.

``It difficult to be successful when everyone is successful there is no good harmony any more it is very difficult.

``I try to do my job well. I have continued because I had support inside the club.''

Usmanov, who formed Red and White Holdings Limited alongside fellow investor Farhad Moshiri specifically to hold equity in the north London club, first bought into Arsenal when he paid Dein around £75million for his 14.65% holding in August and Dein - a close ally of Wenger when on the board - has been installed as the company's chairman.

The announcement Red and White Holdings have upped their stake to 21% prompted suggestions Dein was soon set for a dramatic return to Emirates Stadium.

But Despite all of the uncertainty off the pitch, the Gunners have made a superb start to the new campaign as Wenger's young side sit top of the Premier League table with four wins and a draw from their five matches after Saturday's 3-1 triumph at arch-rivals Tottenham.

Defender Kolo Toure insists the coaching staff and players do not concern themselves with any power struggle in the board room.

He said: ``In the dressing room we just enjoy talking about the games because we know the most important thing for the club is to win games.

``When the club wins games, everything is fine. At the moment we are really focused on the game and do not listen what is said around the club.''

Source: Soccernet.com