UK: SOCCER - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refuses to discuss club politics as he prepares for Champions League game with Sevilla

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refuses to discuss club politics as he prepares for Champions League game with Sevilla. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is not worried about takeover rumours at the club, preferring to focus on his team's Champions League match against Sevilla on Wednesday (September 18). With news that Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov had upped his stake in Arsenal to become the club's second largest shareholder, Wenger insisted : " I'm responsible for the results at the club and not for the rest and basically people will buy or sell shares only, or not want to sell shares only if the club is doing well, so my job is to make sure that the club does well." Red and White holdings, which is co-owned by Usmanov and his business partner now have 21 per cent, compared to the 24 per cent owned by major shareholder Danny Fizman. Former vice-chairman David Dein, who left the club in April over differences with the board, is chairman of Red and White holdings. When asked to comment on Dein's future at Arsenal Wenger replied : " I would like to focus on tomorrow's game. I know you're interested, as I said many times David Dein is my friend, is he insidee the club, is he outside the club, that will not change anything, and for the rest wouldn't like to be involved too much in that struggle and I would like to focus on my technical job that I feel is very important." Arsenal go into the game after a 3-1 win at Tottenham on Saturday which preserved their unbeaten start to the season and saw them rise to the top of the Premier League for the first time since October 2004. The principal architect of Arsenal's win was 20-year-old Spaniard Cesc Fabregas who scored an outstanding goal -- his fifth of the season -- and whose passing and movement in midfield was excellent. Arsenal ooze confidence and style and although Sevilla are sure to test a back line missing the injured William Gallas (groin) and Emmanuel Eboue (ankle), Arsenal start as clear favourites to began their 10th successive season in the Champions League proper with a victory. Sevilla boss Juande Ramos, touted as a possible future manager of Spurs, is under no illusions about Wednesday's task. "I hope we are ready, in theory we should be having won the UEFA Cup twice. We will see in our first few games just how ready we are," he told reporters. UEFA Cup holders Sevilla look set for a baptism of fire when they make their Champions League debut against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.. The Spaniards are making their second visit to north London in just over five months after drawing 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Cup in April. Centre back Javi Navarro is sidelined with an injury and Brazilian midfielder Adriano Correia is also missing, but Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano, French defender Julien Escude, and German fullback Andreas Hinkel all return. Probable teams: Arsenal: 24-Manuel Almunia; 3-Bacary Sagna, 5-Kolo Toure, 6-Philippe Senderos, 22-Gael Clichy; 13-Aleksandr Hleb, 4-Cesc Fabregas, 19-Gilberto Silva, 7-Tomas Rosicky; 25-Emmanuel Adebayor, 11-Robin van Persie Sevilla: 1-Andres Palop; 4-Daniel Alves, 14-Julien Escude, 23-Khalid Boulahrouz, 3-Ivica Dragutinovic; 7-Jesus Navas, 21-Seydou Keita, 11-Renato, 5-Duda; 10-Luis Fabiano, 12-Frederic Kanoute. Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden)

ITN Source | September 19, 2007

Tags:. .movement. .drawing. .confidence. .chairman. .centre