Robin van Persie's will travel to Manchester tomorrow. Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire

Alisher Usmanov accused the board of a lack of investment

Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov has hit out at the board accusing them of a lack of investment.

The Gunners were dealt a severe blow as Robin van Persie announced he would not be signing a new deal at the club.

“Yet again we are faced with losing our true marquee player because we cannot give confidence we can win trophies,” he wrote.

“Where are the safeguards to ensure this doesn’t happen again?”

Usmanov’s Red and White Holding company has a 29 per cent stake in Arsenal, while American businessman Stan Kroenke is the majority shareholder, owning 63 per cent of the club.

“In our view it is clear you are trying to distract attention from the more fundamental issues facing the club. These are the financial model, the lack of investment and club’s future strategic direction.”