The back page of yesterday's Daily Express told us that 'Stan was gunning for Arsenal'. Apparently a deal is to be done within days. This was followed up by Sky News and other newspapers who also reported that that a bid is imminent. Too often stories such as these rely on un-named 'sources', in reality allowing for gossip and tittle tattle to be conveyed as news.

Onlinegooner decided to speak to the Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST), on the record, to find out what was really going on. They told us:

"The AST has a good relationship with the Arsenal Board and the club's other major shareholders. In light of yesterday's media coverage we spoke to all of them to see if the press reports of an imminent takeover were accurate. They confirmed our suspicions that the stories were wrong.

"Kroenke Sports Enterprises is not about to launch a bid for Arsenal.

"Colorado Rapids are currently hosting the Major League Soccer All Star Game. It seems that some positive comments from their media spokesperson about the KSE investment in Arsenal have been translated into a declaration of an imminent takeover approach. In reality this statement merely repeated the position that has been made by Kroenke since his initial purchase of ITV's shares in April.

The AST notes that these press reports have also stated that Stan Kroenke has been snapping up scores of individual shareholdings in Arsenal. This is not true. It would have taken just five minutes to look at the share register or check the daily transactions on the PLUS market to see that there has been very little trade in shares in recent weeks and that Kroenke's holding has not changed.

"The AST welcomes statements by both Arsenal and Stan Kroenke that both parties wish to meet at a full Board meeting. We have frequently called for all major shareholders in the club to work together.

"If, and when, any takeover approach is to be made made for Arsenal by any party, the AST will scrutinse it with great care. We have made it very clear that we do not support a Glazer style debt led acquisition or a new business model based on the short-term extraction of profit - usually secured through increasing ticketing prices.

(Ed’s note – For more information about the Arsenal Supporters Trust, including how to become a member – and thus a de facto shareholder in the club - click here