Arsenal boss reveals the real reason why he is so frugal in the transfer window

Arsene Wenger has tended not to lavish large amounts of money on players

ARSENE WENGER has finally revealed why he is generally so thrifty in the transfer window.

 

Wenger hasn’t always been prepared to splash the cash, although the club spent £42.5million on Mesut Ozil and £35m on Alexis Sanchez in recent seasons.

Arsenal supporters have been quick to criticise Wenger’s frugal ways in the past.

And Wenger concedes he doesn’t like to splash the cash, because he treats the club as if it is his own.

“I’ll give myself merit for one thing: I’ve always treated Arsenal as if it belonged to me,” Wenger told French paper L’Equipe’s Sport and Style Magazine as quoted by the Daily Mirror.

“I have sometimes been criticised for it — because I am not enough of a spender, not carefree enough.

“I credit myself for having had the courage to apply my ideas and fight for them. Aside from that, I can understand why people might not agree.

 

Mesut Ozil joined Arsenal for a club-record fee of £42.5m in 2013

“My great pride will be to be able to say the day that I leave, that I am leaving behind a good team, a healthy situation and a club capable of performing in the future.

“I could have said to myself: 'I am here for four or five years, we win everything', [then] I leave and leave the club on the verge of bankruptcy.

“For me, consistency at the highest level is the true sign of great clubs.”