We’ll just reproduce the statement released by Arsenal. There will be comment in a separate piece later this evening but we want to get this up before the deluge begins…

Notification of Share Acquisition 1st May 2009
The following announcement has today been posted on the PlusMarkets website.

Arsenal Holdings plc (the "Company") has received notification that on 1st May 2009 KSE, UK, Inc. (“KSE”), a company controlled by Stan Kroenke, a Director of the Company, acquired 4,839 ordinary shares of £1.00 each in the Company from members of the Carr family, including Richard Carr, a Director of Arsenal Football Club plc. The shares were acquired at prices of £8,500 per share and £10,500 per share.

As a result of the acquisition, Stan Kroenke has a beneficial interest in, and controls voting rights over 17,613 ordinary shares in the Company, representing 28.3% of the Company's issued ordinary shares.

Mr Kroenke has also notified the Company that KSE has granted three separate charges in respect of, in aggregate, 4,839 shares legally and beneficially owned by KSE. There is no change to Mr Kroenke’s beneficial holding of shares as a result of the grant of the charges.

Richard Carr, Arsenal Director said: "It has been a wonderful ride and the family have enjoyed every minute of it. I hope there will be many more magic moments for us in the future."

Peter Hill-Wood, Chairman of Arsenal: “I would like to pay tribute to the long-standing commitment that the Carr family has shown towards Arsenal. The Club is hugely indebted to them for the role that they have played in the development and success of the Club over the years. The Board particularly wish to thank Richard Carr for his hard work, effort and integrity since joining the Board in 1981 and I am pleased to say that Richard will continue on as a Director of the Club.”