Wenger defends spending policy

25 September 2010 12:14
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has strongly defended his spending policy at the club.[LNB] On Friday, the Gunners announced record pre-tax profits of £56million for the year ended 31 May, 2010.[LNB]Such positive financial figures have led to question marks over Wenger's movement in the recent summer transfer window.[LNB]Wenger signed Laurent Koscielny, Sebastien Squillaci and Marouane Chamakh, but failed to bolster his goalkeeping options after seeing a bid turned down for Fulham's Mark Schwarzer.[LNB]The French coach, though, has hit back at the criticism, stating: "The job of a manager is not to spend as much money as possible.[LNB]"To get (Marouane) Chamakh for free - instead of getting credit you get accused for getting him for free, 'Why did you not spend £20m for him?'[LNB]"If I bought him two years ago for £20m it's OK. But when you get him for free it's, 'Oh, he didn't spend money'."[LNB]Wenger went on to point towards the club's development of players from a young age, insisting that spending big is not always the answer.[LNB]He said: "If I go out and buy players then Jack Wilshere doesn't come through.[LNB]"So you cannot have everything and I know that and I'm long enough in the job to have a development policy to educate the players.[LNB]"Nobody else in the world develops as many players as this club.[LNB]"Take the list of players who started here. Johan Djourou, where has he started? Here. Philippe Senderos - where did he start? Gael Clichy, Kieran Gibbs, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song? All here.[LNB]"Abou Diaby has basically never played before at the top level before here. Neither had Ashley Cole.[LNB]"If you go back it's unbelievable the number of players who started at Arsenal.[LNB]"You cannot buy every time you have an injured player."

Source: Team_Talk