Share
1 of 9
Arsenal beat Chelsea to win the Community Shield on Sunday, but has the club's move to the Emirates cost Arsene Wenger's side in their hunt to win the English Premier League and the Champions League? Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Alisher Usmanov thinks so. The Russian oligarch owns over 30% of Arsenal's shares but says he is powerless to affect the club as he does not sit on the club's board. GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images
Arsene Wenger lost arguably the best 10 years of his career, says Usmanov, as the 2006 move to the Emirates drained Arsenal of resources. IAN KINGTON/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Arsenal left Highbury, their home of 93 years which has now been turned into housing, in 2006 to move to the Emirates, which can seat 60,432 (in contrast to Highbury's 38,419) Tom Shaw/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
The major shareholder at Arsenal is Stan Kroenke, who owns around 67% of the club's shares. The American also has sporting interests in his homeland, where he and son Josh's portfolio includes ownership of the St Louis Rams (NFL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL) and Colorado Rapids (MLS). Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Usmanov, the fencing champion of Uzbekistan three times in his youth and current head of the International Fencing Federation, is pictured alongside IOC President Thomas Bach, who won Olympic gold in fencing in 1976. Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images
Usmanov, who initially made his money in metal and mining operations, is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and was awarded one of Russia's highest civil awards in recognition of his charitable and philanthropic activities in 2013 (the Order for Services to the Fatherland Fourth Class). In this picture from 2008, he is talking to then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/Getty Images
Usmanov's estimated fortune of $14.4 billion is almost double that of Chelsea owner, and fellow Russian, Roman Abramovich, whose assets amount to $8.2 billion. IAN KINGTON/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Arsenal fans carry an over-sized replica of Arsene Wenger as they attend the club's final game at Highbury on 7 May 2006. The Gunners beat Wigan 4-2 as Thierry Henry hit a hat-trick. Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images
