London: United States businessman Stan Kroenke moved closer towards being obliged to launch a takeover bid for Arsenal after purchasing 427 more shares in the English Premier League club.

It was announced yesterday that Kroenke, having spent some £3.6m, had upped his stake in Arsenal to 29.6 percent, fractionally short of the 29.9 percent mark that would require him to launch a takoever for Arsenal under English law.

Last week the Denver-based Kroenke, already Arsenal’s largest individual shareholder, had increased his stake to 28.9 percent after buying 10 additional shares at a cost of some £85,000.

That followed his £765,000 pounds share purchase in the London club last month.

At Arsenal’s recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), Kroenke remained silent when asked about his plans. Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood intervened, pointing out any public statements regarding future bid intentions must be unambiguous, otherwise the individual or group would, under the rules, be prevented from making a formal move for six months.

“I don’t think we are looking for a change in custodian,” Hill-Wood told the AGM. “I think you will find the club is in pretty good hands.

“I believe he (Kroenke) is happy to be a long-term shareholder in our club.”

Kroenke’s steady acquisition of shares has already created plenty of speculation about his ambitions for the club and a takeover by the American would inevitably raise questions about the potential impact on Arsene Wenger’s future.

Gunners boss Wenger has always enjoyed a close relationship with the Arsenal board and he admitted yesterday that he has not spoken with Kroenke.

But the Frenchman insisted a takeover wouldn’t make him consider leaving north London unless he was told his vision for the club was no longer acceptable.

“As long as I am not told I have to change the way I see the vision for the club on the technical side, as long as nobody interferes with that, then I do not see what kind of impact it could have on me,” Wenger said.

“You know me well enough to know that I believe I have shown I can manage a club on the technical side and I have that guarantee at the club no matter who the owner will be.

“I do not know what Kroenke will do. All I know is the rules, that if he gets to 30 percent, he has to make a bid for the club.

“At the moment, he flirts with the 30, but is not there. I do not know what his intentions are, I have not spoken to him about it. “Inside the club, on a daily basis, it does not change anything.”