Alisher Usmanov: Politics will cost us

Arsenal's board have once again come under attack from shareholder Alisher Usmanov. The billionaire, who is the club's second-biggest shareholder behind American Stan Kroenke, criticised the board in an open letter last month and has now told Forbes Magazine's Russian edition that he believes board "politics" are hampering manager Arsene Wenger's efforts to improve a squad which has not won a trophy since lifting the 2005 FA Cup. Usmanov said: "We do not consider just qualifying for the Champions League to be the chief ambition of the club, and with all our hearts we support the team and wish them well for the new season