Silent Stan puts Wenger beyond reproach

Arsenal’s board went into yesterday’s AGM determined to make one key point, but in the end they made two.

They confronted the first head-on, insisting they were entirely justified in paying €3.77m to Kroenke Sports Enterprises, the company owned by their majority shareholder, Stan Kroenke, for “strategic and advisory” work.

They did little to dismiss the fears of some that the American is now using the club solely as an investment vehicle, admitting that future fees could be paid if work (however vague) is done.