Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov has denied claims he will sell off his shares in the wake of the global credit crunch.

Usmanov told the Guardian that selling his 24 per cent holding in the club would be "inconceivable" and aims to increase his stake to 25 per cent.

"When a man loves a woman he can't conceivably sell that love. I'm in love with Arsenal. I have no intention of selling it [my stake].

"That may be possible at some point in time when I know that Arsenal hates me. I will make sure this doesn't happen. I have not lost one single share."

He added: "As long as Arsène Wenger is manager that's not going to happen."