Alisher Usmanov said last night that he has no immediate plans to increase his 24.9 per cent stake in Arsenal, but the Russian billionaire is deeply concerned about the recent boardroom upheaval at the Emirates Stadium.

“I am unlikely to at the moment because I have more important financial matters to deal with,” Usmanov said when asked if he planned to increase his shareholding. “But we have never concealed that we would like to acquire a blocking stake of up to 29.9 per cent and nothing prevents us doing that. That’s what interests us and, little by little, without hurrying, we are buying up shares from the market.”

Usmanov, who has been increasing his stake in the club via his company, Red & White Holdings, also said that he had no intention of buying the 15.9 per cent stake owned by Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, who was unceremoniously removed from the board last week, and hinted that the economic crisis had affected his finances. “At the moment I don’t want to buy,” Usmanov said. “I don’t have the means. Nobody has at the moment.”

Usmanov revealed that Farhad Moshiri, his business partner, had been in talks with Arsenal about recent boardroom changes. “What has happened in the last year poses questions,” Usmanov said. “When, in the space of a year, four members of the board of directors are sacked, when the general director whom everybody has praised is changed, we consider that to be a huge matter — just to sack a major shareholder without explanation.

“Mr Moshiri is now in London and is trying to find out the reasons for these sharp changes and according to what explanation we get, we will decide our strategy.”

However large his shareholding becomes, Usmanov’s involvement will have no detrimental effect on the future of Arsène Wenger as manager. “My investment in Arsenal is connected with absolute faith in the team created by Arsène Wenger. That’s why as long as he’s at the club I will do everything I can to support it,” Usmanov said.

Emmanuel Adebayor has accused Liverpool of persistent fouling in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal, in which he was sent off for two bookable offences. The Togo striker named Lucas Leiva and Jamie Carragher as the main transgressors.

“I can show you the marks on my legs,” Adebayor said. “I was kicked a lot, but I tried to stay on my feet. I don’t think I deserved a red card, but at least one of the Liverpool players did. Carragher was always fouling, so was Lucas in the middle. I made two fouls and got two yellow cards, which is not fair.”

Cesc Fàbregas, the midfield player, was sent for a scan yesterday after suffering knee ligament damage in the same match. The results are expected today.