• Premier League

Wenger warns success is not all about spending

Arsene Wenger says success is not always based on spending big © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Arab consortium planning £1.5bn Arsenal takeover
  

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has said spending big money is not necessarily the key to success and that Chelsea or Manchester City would win the title every year if it was.

The latest Arsenal financial report, released earlier this week, revealed that the club has reserves of £123 million, giving him real power in the summer market.

But the manager stressed that spending power was not the only way to end Arsenal's eight-year trophy drought.

"If it was just about the numbers [money], Chelsea and Manchester City would finish as champions every year," Wenger added.

"I don't see how this [money in the bank] will help us win the game on Sunday. There is no transfer market at the moment, so I am not sitting here today thinking I have so much money to spend. What is more important is how we play on Sunday.

"The real value of a team is where you finish in the championship. Let's see where we finish, and let's see how we can strengthen the team to come back and fight [to win] the championship."

A growing number of Arsenal supporters have criticised Wenger for a perceived lack of ambition in the transfer market over recent years.

But the manager, referring to recent comments by interim Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez, said: "I have a sense of solidarity with every single manager because I am in the same job and I know what they can go through.

"I have never criticised the fans, but we are all human beings and people forget that.

"There is more pressure [on managers now]. There is more media interest, and every decision today is analysed."

Wenger added that the balance of the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League this season could be tipped by events at White Hart Lane on Sunday, with confidence crucial to the ambitions of any team.

"Every defeat makes you quickly weak," he said. "Barcelona just lost two games, and look at the effect it had on their confidence in the second half against Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

"In the last twelve games, we made 28 points out of 36, so our record in the Premier League is quite good. What we want to do in the last ten games is not drop points. We go in every single game as if it is a must-win game."

Wenger confirmed that full-back Bacary Sagna would miss the Tottenham game because of injury, while Abou Diaby is rated at 50-50 to play.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.