Arsene Wenger has declared himself relaxed over talk of a
possible takeover at Arsenal, although he warned he would consider
quitting if his control over team affairs was ever
compromised.
Wenger was responding to news that Russian businessman Alisher
Usmanov has increased his shareholding in the club, making Danny
Fiszman the only superior shareholder at Arsenal.
Following Jose Mourinhos shock fall-out with Chelsea, the dangers
of foreign investment have been highlighted for all to see, but
Wenger insists he would not tolerate interference into his job of
coaching Arsenal Football Club.
"I am totally relaxed because I just want to work the way I work,
said the canny Frenchman.
"If that is not possible, I will have to assess the situation, but
at the moment I must say I work like I want to work.
"Frankly I do not know how it worked [at Chelsea] - but here we do
not have 18 people [who think they control the team].
"I always said I stay because I can rate at the right level what I
have here. I have the freedom to work how I want to work.
"I feel we have a way to run things like I love it here. We can
employ a director of football as long as he does what I tell him to
do."
Meanwhile, Wenger defended Robin Van Persies claims that Arsenal
bring a unique ethic to football, insisting it was merely a show
of confidence not arrogance.
"Robin did not want to imply any superiority, but he just feels
they are happy to play together," the Arsenal manager said.
"When he said he feels like they are playing on a different planet,
he just feels it is easy to play and your confidence is high - they
know that can go quickly.
"It was only two months ago that people were saying we had no
chance of finishing in the top four.
"I had a massive belief in them, but how far they go is down to us.
That is the challenge we have in front of us.