Wenger shrugs off boardroom battles to focus on Reds

ARSENE WENGER maintains the changes within the Arsenal boardroom will have “no impact” on his duties.

The Gunners announced the behind-the-scenes manoeuvres on Wednesday night — which saw majority shareholder Lady Bracewell-Smith, who owns a 15.9% stake and whose family has a long association with the Barclays Premier League club, voted out of her positions completely following a disagreement over Arsenal’s future direction.

The boardroom changes have reignited speculation Arsenal may be set for a takeover, given Bracewell-Smith — who described the turn of events as “appalling” — is now no longer subject to the director’s lockdown agreement designed to fend off any potential hostile bids.

Uzbek minerals magnate Alisher Usmanov, who controls a 24% holding, is sure to be keeping a keen eye on developments. It remains unclear whether US sports tycoon Stan Kroenke — with a 12% stake and who accepted the offer to become a non-executive director on the Arsenal board in September — could be tempted to further invest.

The Gunners manager, though, is in no doubt where his focus lies as he prepares for the visit of Premier League leaders Liverpool tomorrow.

“It has no impact on me, what is happening there,” said Wenger.

“I do not know what is behind that, but it is like what is happening inside the dressing room — you talk as little as you can about it. What is important is the directors do not speak about technique and I do not speak about shares.”

The Arsenal manager does not anticipate a major shake-up either on or off the field.

“Will it impact on the future of the club? I do not think so,” he believes.

“I know Nina Bracewell-Smith, and she did a good job when she was on the board. What were the deep reasons why she left? I do not really know.”

The Gunners head into tomorrow’s clash against Liverpool looking for a clean sweep of victories over their traditional direct title rivals. Despite failing to build on the win over Chelsea by dropping points at Middlesbrough last weekend, Arsenal got lucky because all of the teams above them also drew.

However, with a resurgent Aston Villa — whom the Gunners face away on St Stephen’s Day — now ahead of them in fourth spot, Wenger knows the margins for further error are all but gone.

“We are highly motivated to beat another of the so-called top four, and I am convinced we have the quality to do it,” he said.

Wenger rejected suggestions revenge would be on the agenda following their controversial exit from the Champions League quarter-final last season.

“It is an opportunity for us to catch them, which we want to take. That is all,” Wenger said, his team eight points off the pace.

“The race is still very tight because it looks for me for the first time in six or seven years that the number of points for the winner of this league will be much lower than usual — because everybody drops points against everybody.

“For us, the first step is to get back into the race — and to get back into the race, the important thing is for us to beat Liverpool.”

Arsenal drew Roma in the last 16 of the Champions League. Wenger said: “Of course we have a great chance of winning the competition.

“But now the Champions League becomes a different competition, like a cup competition. If you miss five minutes of the 180, you are out.”