Wenger Says Arsenal Remain Strong Amid Financial Crisis
Arsène Wenger looks to plot a prudent course through tough financial times
Arsène Wenger is hopeful of bringing in one player in January, but has pleaded with Arsenal fans to be patient as the club navigate a pragmatic course through a financial crisis that he expects to affect English football seriously. The Arsenal manager is confident that in a decade the skeptics who have questioned his focus on developing young players will realize that he and the board have acted in the club's best interests.
"I am just telling them [the fans] not to be infected by all the negative publicity around the club. Because in the last 3½ years maybe the club didn't get enough credit, but in 10 years people will realize it was good work," he said.
"I believe that the way we managed the club we put it, in this crisis, in a very strong position, because we do not live on the edge. But we live in a naturally healthy situation – we do not depend on one person, we do not depend on the banks because we make our profit."
This was a transparent reference to his rivals in the big four, of whom he said Manchester United are the only one turning a profit. With 15 English clubs up for sale and no one rushing to buy them, Wenger believes football is in for a reality check: "People still think we are in a bubble, but we will be hit like anybody else, I am convinced of that.
"What we need to focus on is continually developing and not live in dreamland where we are linked with players of £30 to £40 million because that is not realistic."
Last year started with great promise for Arsenal, but Wenger admitted he is not sorry to see the back of what has been his annus horribilis: "It was not a great year. We were in strong position [this time last year]. I think quality-wise the first part of the season was not disappointing, I still believe we were unlucky because we were very close to winning the championship and we were very close and unlucky in the Champions League."
Arsenal have made no inquiries about Shay Given, Mikel Arteta or Andrei Arshavin, but the Frenchman does plan on doing some business this month: "I am hopeful of bringing one [player] in. But I would be lying if I said I was 100% certain."
One player who is going nowhere is the centre-half Kolo Touré, who had a transfer request rejected amid rumors of a rift with the former captain William Gallas.
He denied that last season's first-choice central defensive pairing disliked each other and moved to dismiss it as a factor in the Ivorian's desire to leave the Emirates: "I think they get on, personally. They get on much better than people think and if you lived with us every day you would see that. Nobody can prove fantastic friendship helps you to win football games."
Touré made 43 appearances for Arsenal last season, but has been limited to 15 thus far this term as Wenger favours the taller Johan Djourou or Mikaël Silvestre to play alongside the shorter Gallas: "We needed to add some size centrally. It's not a question of Kolo Touré or William Gallas, it is that the two together are a bit short in the air."
Touré's stature did not raise the initial questions but rather his loss of form on returning from international duty early last year. "He had a little problem when he came back from the African Nations Cup, he wasn't exactly at the same sharpness any more," Wenger said. "Now he has come back to his best level and he works very hard in training."
The defender will miss tomorrow's FA Cup third-round match at home to Plymouth Argyle, though, because of a groin injury.
"I am just telling them [the fans] not to be infected by all the negative publicity around the club. Because in the last 3½ years maybe the club didn't get enough credit, but in 10 years people will realize it was good work," he said.
"I believe that the way we managed the club we put it, in this crisis, in a very strong position, because we do not live on the edge. But we live in a naturally healthy situation – we do not depend on one person, we do not depend on the banks because we make our profit."
This was a transparent reference to his rivals in the big four, of whom he said Manchester United are the only one turning a profit. With 15 English clubs up for sale and no one rushing to buy them, Wenger believes football is in for a reality check: "People still think we are in a bubble, but we will be hit like anybody else, I am convinced of that.
"What we need to focus on is continually developing and not live in dreamland where we are linked with players of £30 to £40 million because that is not realistic."
Last year started with great promise for Arsenal, but Wenger admitted he is not sorry to see the back of what has been his annus horribilis: "It was not a great year. We were in strong position [this time last year]. I think quality-wise the first part of the season was not disappointing, I still believe we were unlucky because we were very close to winning the championship and we were very close and unlucky in the Champions League."
Arsenal have made no inquiries about Shay Given, Mikel Arteta or Andrei Arshavin, but the Frenchman does plan on doing some business this month: "I am hopeful of bringing one [player] in. But I would be lying if I said I was 100% certain."
One player who is going nowhere is the centre-half Kolo Touré, who had a transfer request rejected amid rumors of a rift with the former captain William Gallas.
He denied that last season's first-choice central defensive pairing disliked each other and moved to dismiss it as a factor in the Ivorian's desire to leave the Emirates: "I think they get on, personally. They get on much better than people think and if you lived with us every day you would see that. Nobody can prove fantastic friendship helps you to win football games."
Touré made 43 appearances for Arsenal last season, but has been limited to 15 thus far this term as Wenger favours the taller Johan Djourou or Mikaël Silvestre to play alongside the shorter Gallas: "We needed to add some size centrally. It's not a question of Kolo Touré or William Gallas, it is that the two together are a bit short in the air."
Touré's stature did not raise the initial questions but rather his loss of form on returning from international duty early last year. "He had a little problem when he came back from the African Nations Cup, he wasn't exactly at the same sharpness any more," Wenger said. "Now he has come back to his best level and he works very hard in training."
The defender will miss tomorrow's FA Cup third-round match at home to Plymouth Argyle, though, because of a groin injury.
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