Arsene Wenger ‘not afraid to spend money’ as pressure builds on Arsenal to recruit

Reuters

• More: The National's Transfer Talk page

Arsene Wenger has urged Arsenal fans to be patient with their club’s relative lack of transfer market activity and has reassured supporters that they are keen to recruit before the end of the month.

Title rivals Manchester United and Manchester City have moved decisively and ambitiously in the market over the close season, spending over £320 million (Dh1.55 billion).

Arsenal have made one significant signing, adding Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Moenchengladbach for £30m.

Their defence was found wanting in Sunday’s 4-3 Premier League defeat by Liverpool as a backline including youngsters Rob Holding and Calum Chambers was exposed, prompting grumbles of discontent among Arsenal fans with the club again looking ill prepared for a title challenge.

“We’re not scared to spend money, but to buy in itself is not a quality, to buy good players is,” Wenger said on Thursday. “This club has been built on that.

“The transfer policy we have had here has helped build the club. I know we haven’t done as much as many people but we are out there,” he added. “I have made 400 transfers in my life and I know every one has a rhythm that you are not the only one to decide on.”

Arsenal are interested by Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi, according to reports in the British media, but Wenger refused to reveal any specific transfer targets.

“I would like to reassure you that we are not afraid to spend the money we have and we are working very hard,” he continued.

“You can pay huge amounts of money for average players, there are plenty of those, but to find the ones who will strengthen your squad is more difficult.

“Buying calms the fans of course but we have to make sure we spend it the right way.”

Arsenal continue their Premier League campaign away at champions Leicester City on Saturday.

Bournemouth not through

Eddie Howe has revealed Bournemouth have only one remaining transfer target.

The manager has also insisted that unless they recruit that “younger talent”, no alternatives will arrive because he believes his squad is “99 per cent there”.

Bournemouth visit West Ham on Sunday after losing their opening match of the Premier League season 3-1 at home to Manchester United.

New signings Jordon Ibe and Lewis Cook were among those to feature, and Howe told the club’s official website: “We don’t want to add too many more to the squad, there’s potentially one position we’ll look at — a younger talent.

“Unless we did that deal we will stay as we are. I’m satisfied that we’re 99 per cent of the way there.

“It’s a stronger squad than last year, we have more numbers and a very good work ethic. When you recruit you have to make sure you don’t lose your identity and the pleasing thing for me is that everyone has had a great mentality towards their training.

“I’ve gone on record to say it’s difficult to attract Premier League players in their prime, we’ve gone down a younger route of recruitment, but we’re delighted with the players we’ve brought in, they’ve got great character, attitude and will be very good players for us.”

Bournemouth earned their first ever Premier League victory last season at West Ham, almost a year to the day from Sunday’s fixture.

Their defeat by United was convincing, but they made a reasonable start and the 38-year-old Howe said: “The lads came in with renewed vigour after the game.

“It was a difficult one for us as for long spells we did very well and the first half was in the balance.

“It was an even game, the squad’s looking OK and we’re looking forward to a really exciting game on Sunday.”

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