Alisher Usmanov has admitted he is “fully isolated” from making decisions at the club and believes Arsène Wenger should have a part to play in appointing his successor.

Usmanov is the second-biggest shareholder of Arsenal.

In a rare interview last week which was published by Bloomberg on Monday, the Uzbek-born Russian businessman hinted that he would prefer Wenger to stay in charge for now and suggested that the Frenchman was not entirely to blame for Arsenal’s recent struggles.

“I do not think that the coach alone is to be blamed for what is happening,” Usmanov, 63, said. “Some continuity is needed. This includes the need to prepare a successor for Wenger, but in a very respectful way. I can suggest that Wenger himself can prepare a successor.”