Prospective Arsenal owner Alisher Usmanov says he won't interfere in team affairs should he takeover the club.

Confirming his interest in Arsenal is both business and pleasure, Usmanov said: "If I am involved in business, what do you do it for?

"You do it to increase the number of banknotes either on your bank account or in your pocket.

"So far, thank God, I've never invested my money and lost it. Arsenal is a place where benefit and pleasure go together.

"The business of Arsenal football club is underestimated by at least two times. I have made a portfolio strategic investment and I am intending to obtain a blocking stock of shares - 25 per cent.

"After that I'll quietly wait until the price of the stock increases. I'll go on being an Arsenal fan. I have already been a fan for eight years."

Usmanov said he would not interfere in playing matters. "There's a genius of a coach there, and there's only one thing you can advise to a genius - to stay in touch with us lesser mortals and let us be at least a bit like him."

Asked, in reference to this week's upheaval at Chelsea, whether he would be willing to work with a director of football, Wenger responded: "I don't mind working with a director of football as long as he does exactly what I tell him to do."