Gazidis backs Wenger policy

Gunners chief believes manager's transfer methods are spot on

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 22nd September 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Gazidis backs Wenger policy

Gazidis: Won't change transfer policy

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Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has backed Arsene Wenger's policy of refusing to pay out top money for new players.

Wenger has been criticised in the past, sometimes by his own fans, for failing to compete with their 'big four' rivals in the transfer market.

Instead of going out and buying new talent the Frenchman has admirably put his faith in his current crop of young players to do the business this season.

However with no major trophy to celebrate for four years the pressure is on Wenger and his young Gunners to produce but Gazidis remains convinced that the club's blueprint in terms of transfers is the way forward especially after Uefa recently announced plans to prevent clubs spending more than they earn.

"We believe transfer spending is the last resort. That's the sensible view to have," he said.

"Re-signing existing players is a far more efficient system. What Arsene will not do is spend money on players that do not add something of real value."

Gazidis insists that the club will not be changing their strategy any time soon, no matter how much pressure they will come under.

Media pressure

"It's not easy for a club to walk this path when others have outside funding that we don't have," he added.

"But it's a path we are committed to. Arsene won't do things in response to media pressure. He thinks about the development of the team.

"In the two windows since I've been here, we have signed two players who I think are pretty special - Andrey Arshavin and Thomas Vermaelen.

"Both have added something to the team. What we haven't been prepared to do is go out in what has been a particularly irrational market and spend money for the sake of it.

"We are a club that is living responsibility within its means which is important in the current climate, living by the kind of words that everyone talks about.

"And still we've got a great team that plays some of the most attractive football in the world."