Wenger: How can we compete with Chelsea's spending power?
Arsene Wenger has warned that Arsenal will not be able to compete with the likes of Chelsea in the transfer market.
Wenger today declared people were in "dreamland" if they expected Arsenal to break the bank during the January transfer window, and warned football was not immune to the credit crunch.
Gunners head into the new year already behind in the Premier League title race while also without key men like captain Cesc Fabregas and England winger Theo Walcott because of injury.
Wenger is expected to look to strengthen his depleted squad, most likely in midfield, this month.
Russia playmaker Andrei Arshavin continues to be linked with a 20m move away from Zenit St Petersburg, but Wenger today played down reports Everton's Spain international Mikel Arteta was another target.
Wenger maintains there are very few clubs in the Premier League who can simply buy their way to success.
"Chelsea have not built a stadium and they lose 100m per year - how do you imagine you can deal with that at Arsenal Football Club without going bankrupt? We have to be responsible," he said.
"I do not understand how you can compare with that. The other clubs, except for Manchester United, lose money.
"We have a specific budget which is not as big as I have read in the newspapers, some ridiculous amounts of money that are completely crazy. But we will try to use it wisely and well if we can," he said.
"This team is together, getting stronger and stronger - but what we need to focus on is continually developing and not live in dreamland where we are linked with players of 30m or 40m because that is not realistic."
"We have a very, very good squad and we will go for an exceptional talent only - but if it is just to have one player more, we will not do it."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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