Skip to content

Arsene Wenger wary of Tottenham's financial threat with new stadium

Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring the second goal with the team mates during the UEFA Europa League Group J match v Qarabag
Image: Arsene Wenger expects Spurs to be a financial force once they move into a new stadium

Arsene Wenger believes Tottenham's new stadium will provide Arsenal with their "biggest challenge".

Spurs have begun work on a 61,000-seater stadium around their current White Hart Lane home - work which will see the team play their home games elsewhere for the 2017-18 season before moving in the following year. 

The new ground is set to be the biggest in London - Arsenal's Emirates' capacity is 60,432 - and will also host two NFL games a year for 10 years, which the club hope will help it compete financially with their north London rivals. 

Spurs have revealed revised plans for their new stadium
Image: Spurs expect to move into their new stadium in 2018

Speaking ahead of the Super Sunday clash, Gunners manager Wenger said: "It is the biggest challenge we face. It will be purely down to the technical quality of work.

"On a financial level, we always had level power because when we had 37,000, 38,000 seats [at Highbury] we were level.

"After we moved into the new stadium we had less financial resources than them because we had to pay our debts back. That was always the case.

"Now, maybe in the last two or three years we are in a stronger financial situation, but that will not last because they build a new stadium as well."

Also See:

On the pitch, Arsenal are keeping up the pace at the top of the table while Tottenham remain unbeaten in the league since the opening weekend of the campaign.

Arsene Wenger
Image: Wenger is preparing for a 'big challenge' from Spurs

Wenger's men go into the game on the back of a 5-1 Champions League hammering from Bayern Munich but certainly have the players to keep their Premier League title tilt alive with victory over their rivals.

Alexis Sanchez has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign while World Cup winner Mesut Ozil feels he is now able to show his best having made an uncertain start to life at Arsenal.

"Last season, I was out with my knee injury for a few months," Germany midfielder Ozil told arsenal.com.

Live Ford Super Sunday

"This year I feel fit. I have no injuries and can perform well in games. At the moment, things are going really well.

"But you need to praise the whole team. We fight for each other and are like a small family. You can sense that on the pitch. It shows that we are hungry for success and that's why I want to praise the whole team."

Watch Arsenal v Tottenham live on Sky Sports 1 from 3.30pm on Super Sunday.