Arsène Wenger (in pic) has launched an outspoken defence of his transfer strategy, claiming that he was unconcerned by the vast spending at Tottenham and promising that Arsenal would end this transfer window with a perfectly balanced squad.
Visibly irritated by all the criticism Arsenal have faced in recent days, Wenger also defended the club’s conduct in their pursuit of Newcastle United and France midfielder Yohan Cabaye. Alan Pardew, the Newcastle manager, has accused Arsenal of disrespecting his club by lodging their £10.2million bid for Cabaye only hours before the 4-0 defeat by Manchester City on Monday. Arsenal will return with an improved bid for Cabaye, who wants to leave, and there is still active interest in Paul Pogba, Wayne Rooney, luis Suárez, Gareth Barry and Asmir Begovic.
“I would just like to reiterate to you that in the last 16 years we have been very successful with transfers,” Wenger said. “If you look at the players we have, they are top quality and you should never forget that. It is not always to think what is outside is better than what you have. What is important as well is to rate what you have and our fans have to understand that as well. It’s hard but I can understand the impatience. “I am not happy when our fans are not happy because my job is to make them happy. But I cannot listen every minute to every state of mind. I have to focus on and do what I always do – what is important for this club.”
Wenger dismissed the suggestion that Tottenham’s transfer activity would put Arsenal’s top-four place under threat. “I hear that for 16 years now,” he said. “You cannot look all the time in life at what others do. You do what is right for you. “A squad has to have the right number. Not enough players is not good. Too many players and there is no competition any more. That is not very good as well. We will have the right balance when the transfer window closes, don’t worry.”