Arsenal spending power dwarfs Chelsea riches - so why are the Gunners reluctant to invest?

Arsenal’s two largest shareholders are now worth more than twice as much as Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, according to new figures from Forbes.

The American business magazine has published its 2017 list of the world’s richest men and Gunners duo Alisher Usmanov and Stan Kroenke both feature.

Usmanov, who owns 30 per cent of the club but is not on the board, has seen his net worth grow by more than £2billion in the last 12 months.

The Russian was once ranked as his country’s wealthiest man now has a personal fortune valued at £12.3billion, the new figures claim.

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That number is significantly higher than Abramovich’s estate, which comes in at slightly under £7.4billion, and majority owner Kroenke’s £6.4billion.

Gunners supporters are frustrated at the club’s inability to challenge for titles given the considerable financial resources available to the management.

The latest Forbes list ranks Usmanov as the 66th richest man in the world, with Abramovich at 139 and Kroenke at in at 182.

But while Usmanov’s fortune dwarfs that of compatriot Abramovich, it is the latter who has invested heavily to deliver success at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal, having pumped money into building the Emirates Stadium, are operating a tight financial model where investment does not outstrip income.

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Manager Arsene Wenger has borne the brunt of supporters’ frustrations and it is not certain he will remain in charge beyond the end of the season.

The Frenchman has declared he has made up his mind over his future and will make an announcement ‘very soon’ as to whether he continues in the hotseat.

Abramovich’s Chelsea, along with big-spending Manchester City, are looser with the purse strings and have dominated the transfer market in recent years.

Mexico an telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim remains the richest man in. The Real Oviedo owner slipped to sixth on the list with a personal fortune of $54.5 billion.

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