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Arsenal reject talk of £1.5bn Middle East takeover
ARSENAL have insisted that reports of an impending £1.5bn takeover offer from a Middle East consortium are wide of the mark.
Before the Gunners 2-1 defeat to Tottenham yesterday, rumours circulated that a huge offer was in the pipeline to buy the club.
An unnamed group thought to be from the Middle East was claimed to be ready to make a bid to takeover at Arsenal from current American owner Stan Kroenke.
However, the capital outfit moved to dismiss the claims with communications director Mark Gonnella insisting Kroenke is not about to sell his stake.
"Mr Kroenke is committed to Arsenal FC for the long term and has no intention of selling," said Gonnella.
"There has been no contact from any consortium regarding a takeover."
Kroenke - who also owns a number of sports teams in the United States - holds a near 67 per cent stake in Arsenal football club with almost 30 per cent controlled by outcast Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov.
While Kroenke and Usmanov are not thought to be receptive to selling their shares, the supposed investors from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were reported to have requested a meeting with majority shareholder Kroenke.
The timing of the story appears suspicious given it came just hours before the crucial North London Derby which Arsenal lost, and manager Arsene Wenger revealed his surprise at the reports after the match.
"I don't know anything about it, I heard it like you [in the newspapers]," said Wenger.
"You are only vulnerable if you want to sell and you need money.
"That doesn't concern me at all, that is down to the owners."
Arsenal remain in fifth place in the league after yesterday's loss, five points behind Chelsea in fourth and seven points away from Tottenham Hotspur in third.
The club have not won a trophy in nearly eight years, and now face failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 16 seasons.