Arsenal major shareholder Alisher Usmanov admits he dropped interest in Manchester United and turned to the Gunners over the football Arsene Wenger's team plays.

The Uzbek billionaire told the Guardian: It is well documented that I am a lifelong football fan. My love of the British game started with the 1966 World Cup. I started watching Arsenal about eight years ago, principally because of Arsene Wenger and the football played under him. I consider him to be a genius and way ahead of any manager in his views on the sport.

"I have seen Arsenal in action many times and particularly enjoyed the teams that combined the steel of Viera with the delightful attacking talents of Henry, Bergkamp and Pires. We look at many things in life, but my heart was always for Arsenal and that is where I wanted to invest when the opportunity arose."