Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman says the board are willing to speak with new major shareholder Alisher Usmanov.

He said: "We will talk with any major shareholders and if Mr Usmanov wants to talk we will. We are there to act in the interest of the shareholders. But we don't have to do what they tell us to do."

Usmanov last week declared he would be prepared to back the Gunners in the transfer market if asked.