Wenger backs creativity over cash

By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger believes you don’t need megabucks to be successful.

On Sunday, Arsenal play host to Chelsea, a side who have invested heavily after being bought by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. The Frenchman knows he does not have that much money at his disposal but it has been sufficient to win six trophies in his eight years in charge.

"I don’t say we are poor,” said Wenger. “But if you analyse what we have spent you will find many teams in Europe spend more than us.

“We are in the bracket with clubs like Newcastle and Tottenham. We don’t spend more than we have.

“Of course you need the minimum of resources. You can’t have the money of a lower league team and fight for the championship. But there is also a way to be successful. It just forces you to be more creative.

“For example we bought Patrick Vieira for $5 million at the time and we bought Thierry Henry with less than half the money we got from the sale of Anelka.”