Usmanov eager to defuse Dein hosility

Alisher Usmanov, the Russian billionaire who owns 23% of Arsenal, has said he does not want to be “a hostage to any hostilities” which remain between the current board and former vice-chairman David Dein.

Dein, who left the club after a disagreement about overseas investment, sold his 14.6% stake in the Gunners to Usmanov and was later named as the non-executive chairman of the Uzbek-born businessman’s company Red and White Holdings.