By Rob Parrish Last updated: 24th September 2007
Usmanov: No Arsenal meeting
Arsenal are unconcerned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov's plans to obtain a 'blocking stake' in the Premier League club.
And managing director Keith Edelman admitted that the Gunners are yet to hold a meeting with Usmanov or his Red and White Holdings Limited group.
Usmanov currently holds a 21 per cent stake in the Gunners and has spoken of his plans to increase that to over 25 per cent before waiting for the value of his stock to increase.
A 'blocking stake' would be a stake high enough to make the corporate running of the club more difficult to carry out without a certain amount of shareholder backing.
But the Gunners believe even owning a quarter of the club would give him very little power and Edelman believes Arsenal would continue to operate as normal.
Edelman said: "I am unsure what he [Usmanov] can do with 25 per cent, and I do not believe he can stop us operating the business on a day-to-day basis.
"It is a distraction for us to keep talking about it, but we are trying to focus on the team getting the job done and we do not think it affects them."
And Edelman added: "As far as Usmanov is concerned, we have always stated our belief as a responsible corporate body, we meet anybody who requests a meeting, and that is still our policy."
One possible step for Red and White Holdings Limited - now Arsenal's second-largest shareholder - is to seek a place on the board.
But a return of former vice-chairman David Dein, under his new role with Usmanov's group, would have to be approved by the current Gunners board.
Edelman said: "The board can review anybody being a director at any time, and either accept or decline it.
"If he had 49.999 per cent, but the board did not think he would add value as a director, it would say no.
"It would have to go over 50 per cent for the board not to have a choice."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 18th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Barnet vs Arsenal |
| Monday 20th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:30 | Lincoln City vs Arsenal |
| Wednesday 29th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Hannover 96 vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 16:15 | Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid |
| Sunday 2nd August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 16:15 | Arsenal vs Rangers |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Wigan |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Blackburn |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Sunday 10th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 1 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Tuesday 5th May | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Arsenal 1 - 3 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 2nd May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 3 Arsenal | |
| Wednesday 29th April | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Sunday 26th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 2 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Tuesday 21st April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 4 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 18th April | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Arsenal 1 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Wednesday 15th April | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Villarreal | |
| Saturday 11th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Tuesday 7th April | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Villarreal 1 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 4th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 2 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 21st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 1 - 3 Arsenal | |
| Tuesday 17th March | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Arsenal 2 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 4 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Wednesday 11th March | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Roma 1 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Sunday 8th March | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Burnley | |
| Tuesday 3rd March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Brom 1 - 3 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 28th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Birmingham City | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Bolton Wanderers | 0 | 0 |
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