Big Sam aims to go Arsenal way

Allardyce: Wenger admiration

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Sam Allardyce is aiming to replicate Arsenal's youth success story at Blackburn.

Rather than spending heavily on big-name players, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has preferred to invest in promising youngsters, bringing them through playing the Arsenal way.

That policy has produced world-class players such as captain Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, while Wenger is currently looking to mould a host more young talents into stars of the future.

Allardyce used his contacts and vast scouting network while in charge at Bolton to land high-profile players on free transfers and short-term deals, ultimately steering Wanderers into Europe.

And although he led Rovers to a 10th-placed finish this season, Allardyce reckons the Arsenal way is the only chance clubs like Blackburn have of competing for European places in future given the gap in spending power between themselves and England's elite.

Bolton class

"The team I had at Bolton was class but you couldn't do that again," he said. "You could not afford to buy the players.

"At Bolton I had Jay-Jay Okocha, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Ivan Campo, Kevin Davies and Bruno N'Gotty, who were all under 30.

"If you tried to get comparable players now they would cost £30million.

"Instead you have to try to follow Arsenal's blueprint of getting expensive young players and developing them.

"Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas. What would Van Persie cost now? £25million?

"We have Phil Jones and Martin Olsson. We have also invested in Steven N'Zonzi. Hopefully that will be the success story of Blackburn Rovers."

Van Persie was 21 when Wenger snapped him up from Feyenoord for £3million, a fraction of the price the Dutch striker would command now, which would almost certainly be beyond Arsenal's budget.

Blackburn's production line looks healthy at present, with Phil Jones breaking into the Rovers' defence this season.

The Preston-born 18-year-old is already being linked with Arsenal and Liverpool, so Allardyce may be forced to cash in.

Spending power

But at least Blackburn would make a hefty profit and can reinvest the cash in a bid to mix it with the Premier League's big spenders.

"It is becoming increasingly difficult to break into the top half of the table now," Allardyce added.

"Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are now being threatened by Tottenham, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Everton.

"Then you also have to look at Sunderland's spending.

"Everyone seems to have forgotten Roy Keane spent £86million up there and now Steve Bruce is trying to take it on by signing even better players.

"Stoke can spend as well so that is 10 clubs already spending big money and paying big wages.

"It just proves the whole world of football has changed dramatically."