On 18 April 2007, Arsenal’s vice-chairman, David Dein, left the club.

The Arsenal vice-chairman was with the Gunners for 24 years before leaving due to ‘reconcilable differences’. Dein wanted billionaire Stan Kroeke, who is now Arsenal’s majority shareholder, to take over the club. The rest of the board didn’t, at least not that that point.

Dein, who was appointed in 1983 after buying out 16.6% of the shares, which he later increased to 42% in 1991, helped oversee transfer negotiations and other football matters. In fact, he took a very active role in the club and many believe that Arsenal started to go downhill in the transfer market because he left.

Dein persuaded Ian Wright, a Crystal Palace player at the time, to come to north London and later was instrumental in bringing Dennis Bergkamp to the club.

He also helped recruit Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Thierry Henry, Davor Šuker, Robert Pirès, Sol Campbell, Gilberto Silva, Gaël Clichy, Kolo Touré, Cesc Fàbregas and Robin van Persie.

He was the reason Arsene Wenger was given the job as Arsenal manager and they worked well alongside each other for 11 years.