Who needs the best striker in the world (Thierry Henry) when the real power in English Premiership football is in getting backed by a Russian oligarch? From DealBook:
Russian mining magnate Alisher Usmanov has acquired a stake in Arsenal from David Dein, the club’s former vice-chairman and a close ally of manager Arsene Wenger. The sale of the 14.6 percent stake for 75 million pounds ($152 million) may fuel speculation that Mr Usmanov, who has made much of his fortune in the steel industry, may eventually mount a takover bid for the north London club.
English football is becoming like Battle-Bots (or one giant pissing contest) for Russian magnates, as Chelsea has been annoyingly good since Roman Abramovich bought the team in 2003.
(Pictured - The Arsenal SLR-105, a Bulgarian AK variant)
Russian Steel Magnate Buys Arsenal Stake [DealBook]
Posted by ian, Aug 31, 2007 10:17AM
If only Arsenal's players would show the ruthlessness of a Russian gangster (sorry, oligarch) in front of goal once in a while...