adminLONDON. – Arsene Wenger believes the days of Arsenal being at the mercy of the richest clubs in the world are over.
The Gunners have often been forced to cash-in on their leading stars, with Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor all lining up against them in the English Premier League this season.
But Wenger feels the tables are starting to be turned, with his side able to secure high-profile signings Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez over the last 12 months, with the promise of more to come.
Wenger insists that Manchester City do not scare him either on the pitch or with their financial muscle off it.
City beat Arsenal 6-3 at the Etihad last season on their way to their second league title in three years.
And Arsenal have this summer lost Bacary Sagna to City – their opponents in tomorrow’s Community Shield – with the French defender following Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri to leave the Emirates for Manchester.
But Wenger says the introduction of Financial Fair Play and Arsenal’s increased wealth has closed the money gap.
“We are less vulnerable now, that is for sure,” Wenger said.
“In the last two years we bought Ozil and Sanchez – five years ago we would have lost Ozil and Sanchez. We have more money available to buy today than we had five years ago.
“We can compete better. For years we have lost top players without the ability to replace them because of financial management.”
As well as Sanchez, Arsenal have spent £16m on 19-year-old defender Calum Chambers, who became the latest in a long line of players to leave Southampton this summer.
And Wenger compared Arsenal’s past difficulties to the current situation at St Mary’s, where Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale have also departed in recent years. – Sky Sports.
Online Reporter