So David Dein has sold his shares to Russian steel magnate Alisher Usmanov, the 278th richest man in the world according to Forbes.com.

But his personal wealth is calculated at around £2 billion, compared with Roman Abramovich’s £18 billion. So Arsenal fans should not be expecting the Gunners to start going down the Chelsea route of attempting to buy their way to the top of the tree.

Dein’s position as chairman of the company that now owns his shares presumably gives him the option of at some stage cutting his ties with Arsenal (in the event of a possible takeover bid not being successful) and taking over as an independent chairman of the Football Association. What significance that today’s press conference was apparently organised by David Davies of the Football Association?

Interesting times…