‘We can now spend big and win trophies’

LONDON — Arsene Wenger says Arsenal have come through their transitional period and can now spend big money for established world-class players.

The Gunners manager has also outlined his three-pronged strategy to regain the Premier League title and put Arsenal back in position to regularly win trophies.

Addressing around 200 shareholders at Thursday’s annual general meeting, Wenger said that Arsenal had come through a transitional period when they were constrained by their move from Highbury to the Emirates but that they were now in a financial position to execute all elements of his strategy, including sometimes spending big money for established world-class players.

“We have a huge ambition to win this league again, that is the target of the season,” he said.

The first priority, Wenger added, was to remain faithful to developing young talent and Arsenal’s fluent style of football.

“I believe that has to be the core and the strength of our club. They know how we want to play, how we want to behave and they bring their qualities and these values to the team,” he said.

The second pillar is what Wenger called “the intelligence of our eye”. In short, the ability to recognise and recruit great players at an early age.

“Players who are unknown and who can become big players here,” he said.

The final priority, explained Wenger, was to use the club’s vastly increasing resources to secure world-class players.

“This season, for example, we have bought Ozil,” he said, referring to German playmaker Mesut Ozil, who made a surprise move to Arsenal from Real Madrid just before the close of the transfer window for £42.5 million (S$85.1 million).

“You don’t need any scout to buy Ozil. You just need money. I am quite happy that we have shown to you that we are not scared to spend money when we think the players have the quality and we have the funds available. The future of this club will rely on the quality of the work we do here, inside in developing our players, scouting with quality and, when it is needed, to put big numbers out and buy the player.”

Wenger then appeared to take a dig at those clubs whose success has been underpinned by the extraordinary investment of their billionaire owners.

“I believe we have a huge advantage in that our club is well respected all over the world because we have values, because we are not artificial, because we are based on tradition, because we are as well forward thinking and we give a chance to young people who deserve it,” he said.

However, the Frenchman also admitted that there had been times when the team did not “feel” the support of the Emirates home fans but acknowledged that it was “up to us to give you the belief”.

He added: “I personally am convinced we have the team who have the attitude and the desire to do that. We are top of the table, we are in a very strong position but, if you look at the schedule, then by the end of November, you will have a much clearer situation of where the strengths of everybody lie. I am confident at the end of May, we will be happy.”

Stan Kroenke, the majority owner, made it clear he had invested in Arsenal to win trophies.

“None of us up here on the board, the fans, players, or Arsene are happy until we have won championships and trophies,” he said.

Alisher Usmanov, Arsenal’s second-largest shareholder, increased his stake yesterday to 30 per cent. Although that was previously the point at which a takeover offer had to be made, Kroenke now has around two-thirds of the shares and has no interest in selling.

Santi Cazorla should return to the Arsenal squad for the first time today since he suffered an ankle injury against Tottenham at the start of September.

Tomas Rosicky will also be available, while Ozil is expected to have recovered from the knee injury he suffered while on international duty with Germany. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH