One of Arsenal's top shareholders Alisher Usmanov has stated that Arsene Wenger's age and numerous principles could be some of the factors responsible for the club being unable to mount a serious title challenge in recent years.
Alisher Usmanov who owns over 30 percent of Arsenal stated that he respects the Frenchman for his principles which have worked for the London club so well in the past, but still insists that some of these policies have to be looked into as they may not be effective anymore considering the way things have changed in the world of football today.
"Arsene Wenger is one of the greatest coaches not just of European but of world football," Usmanov told CNBC in an interview.
"But we have a Russian proverb which goes: 'Even an old lady can have a roof falling on her.' Everybody makes mistakes. He can make mistakes and I know as you age that it is more difficult, more challenging to accept one's mistakes. Maybe it's a problem today.
"I like Arsene for his principles, but principles are a sort of restriction. And restrictions are always lost possibilities. That's why sometimes coaches even without principles became the coaches of great teams and some coaches with principles lose because some positions in team are vacant because of ethical, moral or personal views.
The Russian Billionaire also emphasized on Arsenal having to recruit more quality players in every position to match the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona. He also went further to reveal that the money is available to be spent, but spending it depends on the investors at Arsenal and Arsene Wenger.
"Does he have money or not? There is officially money in the club. How does he spend [it]? This decision investors have left with him. I wish them victories, because their victories are the victories of investors, including myself, and of great Arsenal fans, which deserve these victories.
"My opinion -- and I tell it openly -- we need to strengthen every position to play on the level of such teams in [the] U.K. as Chelsea and Manchester City, in Europe like Real [Madrid], Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, [Bayern Munich] and other clubs."
"Arsene Wenger is one of the greatest coaches not just of European but of world football," Usmanov told CNBC in an interview.
"But we have a Russian proverb which goes: 'Even an old lady can have a roof falling on her.' Everybody makes mistakes. He can make mistakes and I know as you age that it is more difficult, more challenging to accept one's mistakes. Maybe it's a problem today.
"I like Arsene for his principles, but principles are a sort of restriction. And restrictions are always lost possibilities. That's why sometimes coaches even without principles became the coaches of great teams and some coaches with principles lose because some positions in team are vacant because of ethical, moral or personal views.
The Russian Billionaire also emphasized on Arsenal having to recruit more quality players in every position to match the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona. He also went further to reveal that the money is available to be spent, but spending it depends on the investors at Arsenal and Arsene Wenger.
"Does he have money or not? There is officially money in the club. How does he spend [it]? This decision investors have left with him. I wish them victories, because their victories are the victories of investors, including myself, and of great Arsenal fans, which deserve these victories.
"My opinion -- and I tell it openly -- we need to strengthen every position to play on the level of such teams in [the] U.K. as Chelsea and Manchester City, in Europe like Real [Madrid], Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, [Bayern Munich] and other clubs."
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