Wenger claims lack of cash

Frenchman says no strikers wanted to move in winter

Last updated: 10th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wenger claims lack of cash

Wenger: Refuses to gamble

LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
Arsenal v Liverpool
7.45pm, Wed, Sky Sports HD2, Sky Sports 2 and online with Sky Player

Click here to remote record

Related links

Teams

Also see

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is not prepared to abandon his frugal transfer policy in order to chase the Premier League title because the finances are not available.

The Gunners have come under the spotlight in the past fortnight following comprehensive defeats to top-flight silverware rivals Manchester United and Chelsea.

With Arsenal now nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea, it has been suggested that Wenger's faith in young, promising talent has been found wanting when compared to the riches of their London rivals.

But the Frenchman insists that, in an era when very few, if any, Premier League clubs are running at a financial profit, he will not give up his responsibility to invest in the future.

He said in The Sun ahead of Wednesday's crucial home meeting with Liverpool: "We've gone for a policy and need to be strong, patient and sometimes get knock-backs but still persist because it's the only way this football club can be run.

"I know everybody else is impatient. My job is to be patient and to work and to let people think if I do the right things or the wrong things and that's it. It's part of my job to live with that."

Wenger is adamant that he will not gamble with Arsenal's long-term stability as he claims he has no choice, having a dig at the levels of debt built at Chelsea under Roman Abramovich in the process.

Artificial world

He added: "We cannot show them because they can lose £150million. We cannot live like that.

"I don't know in what kind of world you live. Football lives in an artificial world at the moment.

"You know what the situation is. We have to live in a realistic world at Arsenal and we are very proud of that.

"If you go on high transfers, you go on high wages. It is linked. We cannot afford that."

Wenger is expected to complete a deal for Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh in the summer, after a long, cagey pursuit of the striker, but he has been criticised for not finalising the move in the recent transfer window.

However, the Gunners boss said: "Look at what happened in this transfer market. Give me one big move? Zero.

"People ask me 'Why do you not buy a great striker?' But tell me one who has moved from one club to another, not one."

Comments (3)

  • Page 1 of 1
  • 1

Damian De leon (Arsenal fan) says...

Sorry Arsene but after the way you and the Arsenal board turned your noses up at the Usmanov rights issue money, i dont think you can now bemoan a lack of cash. He wasn't even looking for shares in return and like it or not he does own a big part of our club and doesnt look like going away for now any way. Should've just taken the money, instead they back Silent Stan Kronke, I guess thats cos American owners have done just great with Premiership clubs! Go Figure

Posted 08:52 10th February 2010

Lewis Sawyers (Arsenal fan) says...

I really do not see why Arsene Wenger has not bought a decent striker! They are around, its just he's fixated on this marvellous future we are meant to have. There won't be any future for Arsenal at this rate because unless we pull some marvel out the bag and win the Champions League, then it will become more and more adament that our greater players, like Fabregas will want to find trophies elsewhere; leaving the Gunners stranded. I don't understand why a bid didn't go in for Kenwyne Jones in January, he is what Arsenal need! Height, strength, an actual goal threat!! He wins virtually everything in the air and he allows other players to run off of him, which would be great for Arsenal with the creativity of players like Rosicky, Nasri, Van Persie, Eduardo and Fabregas. It will bring an all new dimension to how we play!! Every 'top four' team or top four challenger has at least one quality threat, Drogba, Torres, Rooney, Defoe and even Tevez and Adebayor are proving at Man City!

Posted 08:50 10th February 2010

Andrew Nealon (Manchester United fan) says...

Umm ruud van nistelrooy for one? I'm sure he would have gone to Arsenal on a 2 year contract if they offered that, surely with the ticket prices at the emirates and other income they could afford to pay his wages.

Posted 08:47 10th February 2010
  • Page 1 of 1
  • 1

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private