Wenger - Money is no excuse

Gunners boss looks to existing squad to impress

Last updated: 31st July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wenger - Money is no excuse

Wenger: Refuses to blame money

No matter what happens this season, the money will not be an excuse if we do not achieve our targets.

Arsene Wenger
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Arsene Wenger says Arsenal cannot blame a lack of big-money signings should they disappoint in the Premier League this season.

Following their third-placed finish last term, Arsenal have seen rival clubs splash the cash this summer, with Manchester City again investing heavily as they prepare to mount their title challenge.

In contrast, manager Wenger has brought in former Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer and French centre-back Laurent Koscielny from Lorient in a reported £10million deal.

But the Gunners boss feels his young squad have enough talent to contend for a first championship since the invincible campaign of 2003/04.

Concern

"I am concerned about the focus of my team and the quality of my team, and we will try and do as well as well we can," said Wenger.

"No matter what happens this season, the money will not be an excuse if we do not achieve our targets. We know the world we live in."

The Gunners boss added: "Do I think we have a team to play at the top? Looking at the players we have, I say yes.

"It does not go into financial consideration. I judge whether they are good enough in the championship.

"Have the other clubs more money or less money? It is not important. It is whether the players are better players or lesser players and I think we can compete with the players we have."

Wenger believes his squad will keep improving as the younger players continue to develop.

"We have to remind ourselves that we decided to go with a very young team three or four years ago and we have developed this team," he said.

"I believe that two years ago we were quite far, but last year in April we were two points away from the top.

"Normally we should be closer again because that development is part of a young team.

"We are not a team that is at the end of a cycle, we are at the start of a cycle.

"So our future will be decided not by who we buy or need, but as well by how much we improve."

Open

Based on some surprise results last season, Wenger believes the forthcoming campaign could be an "open" contest.

"I feel there will be more teams fighting for the title," he added.

"It makes it more interesting and open as well - we have seen the start of that last season as well, all of the top teams lost points against the second part of the Premier League.

"That trend could even become stronger this year."

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