London - Red and White Holdings Limited, the company part- owned by the Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, increased their shareholding in Arsenal to over 25 per cent on Monday.

Red and White said the increase in their shareholding was "in line with Red and White's previously stated intention to secure a significant shareholding in Arsenal and ensure that its position is protected".

Usmanov co-owns Red and White with Farhad Moshiri, a London-based investor.

"We are pleased to have now secured over a quarter of the shares of Arsenal," the statement went on.