Right, busy busy so let’s get stuck right in.
The fallout from Lady Nina’s departure has begun in earnest with the Lady herself hitting out at the board and the way she was removed. She said:
I’m in total shock and very upset about the appalling way I have been treated. The board have no manners whatsoever and my views were ignored on many occassions.
I can’t understand why I have been removed in such a ruthless fashion. I have had no proper explanation as to why they wanted me out so much. It is very difficult to accept especially after what my family has done for Arsenal for so many years.
Harsh words and it confirms that the split was most certainly acrimonious. However, given the fact Usmanov is hovering around like a fat slimy bumble-bee there has to be more to it than she’s saying. Her shareholding, and that of Richard Carr, is significant, so they certainly didn’t decide to get rid of her on a whim. There must have been a very good reason and I’m quite sure Lady Nina knows exactly what that is.
Going to the press and saying she doesn’t is hardly believable. It is in the current board’s interest, greatly so, to keep her shareholding within the current structure. For them to have apparently made life that much more difficult for themselves makes little or no sense on any level. There’s more to this than a clash of personalities. There has to be.
It does make the scenario whereby her shares are bought by current board members a lot less likely and again that opens the door for Usmanov to swoop. Whether or not he still has the money remains to be seen. Whatever’s going to happen you feel this is just the start, things could get even more messy. I know it’s not the done thing and the board generally maintain a silence in the face of most criticism but I think this is a situation which needs an explanation or, at least, their side of things to be told.
I don’t buy her story that she has no idea why what happened happened. Especially when she says:
I’ve never had a thought of selling my Arsenal shares, and I still don’t.
From what I’m told she has been willing to sell but mindful of the connection her family has had with the club she hasn’t done so. So saying she never thought of selling them isn’t entirely accurate. Anyway, it now seems as if the boardroom mirrors the pitch, everything’s all over the fucking place.
Away from the board and ahead of the Liverpool game on Sunday the team news is that Samir Nasri is 95% to make a comeback before he goes and gets injured a couple of games later. Nicklas Bendtner is a doubt with a knee injury, as is Kolo due to his calf, and beyond that it’s the usual suspects out. We’ll have more on that game tomorrow and Sunday but you can hear the Mugsmasher’s thoughts on today’s Arsecast. Sylvester talks about Liverpool too.
RedAction are urging people wear yellow on Sunday to bring a 20th Anfield 89 anniversary feel to the place. Check their site for more details.
The draw for the knock-out stages of the Champions League draw takes place today from 1300 (CET). Just to remind you Arsenal will play one of: Roma, Panathanaikos, Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Juventus
Some interesting game there but obviously the stand-out fixture is Barcelona. Now that would be some trip, back to Barcelona, the old haunts, the bocadillo de tortilla francesa con jamon washed down with an Estrella. Bring. It. On.
Update: It’s Roma!
Right, time for the Arsecast and it is a busy one. With no Arsecast next week due to the festive celebrations and what have you there’s lots to get through on this one. The Mugsmasher is on to talk about Liverpool, Nigel Phillips from the Arsenal Supporter’s Trust talks about the whole Lady Nina situation, there are some special Christmas messages, Amaury Bischoff PI, the winner of our Savile-Rogue scarf and one more chance to win the finest scarf in the entire kingdom, plus the Man in the Bar has a Christmas song. Phew.
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Right then, have at it. More tomorrow.
