• Premier League

Arsene Wenger is holding back Arsenal, says Usmanov

Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov says the stubborn approach of manager Arsene Wenger and his maturing age may be factors in the club's struggle to challenge for the title.

Arsenal fell 15 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea after just 12 games of the campaign, as Manchester United recorded a 2-1 win at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with Usmanov joining the debate over Wenger's future at Arsenal.

In an interview with CNBC, Usmanov described Wenger as "a great man and a great coach" and stated he should be given time to turn around the club's fortunes, but also suggested Wenger is not solving problems that have undermined his team's hopes for several years.

"Arsene Wenger is one of the greatest coaches not just of European, but of world football," stated Usmanov, who owns more than 30% of Arsenal, but has been denied a place on the club's board of directors.

"But we have a Russian proverb which goes: 'Even an old lady can have a roof falling on her.' Everybody makes mistakes. He can make mistakes and I know as you age that it is more difficult, more challenging to accept ones mistakes. Maybe it's a problem today.

Arsene Wenger is coming under increasing pressure after a poor run of results © Getty Images

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"I like Arsene for his principles, but principles are sort of restriction. And restrictions are always lost possibilities. That's why sometimes coaches even without principles became the coaches of great teams and some coaches with principles lose because some positions in team are vacant because of ethical, moral or personal views.

"Does he have money or not? There is officially money in the club. How does he spend them - this decision investors have left with him. I wish them victories, because their victories are the victories of investors, including myself, and of great Arsenal fans, which deserve these victories."

Usmanov went on to confirm he was "not happy" with Arsenal's failure to build on their potential and challenge for major honours, as he claimed lessons are not being learned from errors that have resurfaced time and again.

"The potential of the team is there, but there is no critical evaluation of own mistakes and their admittance," he added. "Not a single genius can retain its level when he does not admit own mistakes. Only when you admit your mistakes do you get rid of them.

"I wish this to my club. Nothing wrong, but we just repeat same results year by year. Quite high to secure the place in the Champions League, but we regularly lose in the first circles of play-offs. As an investor I am not happy with that."

Usmanov also expressed his annoyance at his lack of influence at Arsenal, as he pointed out that he will have no say over the future of Wenger or the direction of the club moving forward despite his huge shareholding.

"First of all I decide nothing in this matter," Usmanov added. "This a strange position when the second biggest investor, who has more than 30 per cent, decides nothing and it is frustrating, although I have a great respect for the president of the club."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd