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Arsene Wenger is reportedly determined to 'stick to his principles' and will resist calls to make significant additions to his current squad at Arsenal in the summer despite their recent collapse.
According to The Times, Wenger is 'adamant that his young players have the talent and the temperament to win leading trophies and will give many of them the chance to do so next season.' Despite being offered a £35m transfer budget by the club's board, Wenger is set to only make a few tweaks to his squad and will stubbornly resist the temptation to make a 'big-name signing.'
Although Wenger has reportedly acknowledged the need to sign an 'an experienced defender' - possibly at the expense of either Philippe Senderos or Johan Djourou - The Times says that 'he is likely to focus his efforts on securing the best of the upcoming generation, with Hatem Ben Arfa, the 20-year-old Lyons winger, a top target.'
The general inexperience of the current Arsenal squad has been cited as a salient factor in their Premiership decline and exit from the Champions League. With an average age of around 23, it is the youngest of the Big Four. However, with its two elder statesmen, Gilberto Silva and Jens Lehmann, both bound to depart in the summer, the probability is that Arsenal's squad will be even more youthful next season. Having already insisted that he plans to give more games to the likes of Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner in 2008/09, Wenger is also understood to be planning to solve the Gunners' obvious deficiency on the flanks by recalling Carlos Vela and Fran Merida from their current loan spells in Spain.
I don't know about Merida, but I have seen Carlos Vela play and the guy is really, relly good. Arsenal definitely have a strong squd and I will be hapy if Wenger really doesn't spend in the summer.
Article No.2
GUNNERS PAYING PRICE FOR YOUTH POLICY
-Football365
Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal are suffering the consequences of their reliance on youth as their season teeters on the brink of ruin.
Wenger's young Gunners defied all expectations by starting the season at a blistering pace and establishing a five-point lead at the Premier League summit.
But inconsistency and bad luck have undermined their campaign since February and failure to beat Manchester United will crush their remote title hopes.
A third consecutive season without silverware beckons but Wenger refuses to abandon his preference for nurturing emerging talent over signing expensive superstars.
The Frenchman accepts his players have proved fallible at key moments this season but is adamant they have the class to succeed.
"When you go for a youth policy you know about the price you must pay," he said.
"We knew that we had to enter March with a big advantage but now we have no special pressure on us and we can use that to our favour.
"Big moments in big games have gone against us. We have to think about that at the end of the season and try to rectify it.
"Last month we were 1-0 up against Chelsea with 17 minutes to go but lost the game 2-1. We had the game in our hands, we just had to grab it.
"At decisive moments in games we have shown a lack of maturity and that's what's gone wrong for us recently. It's only maturity, not quality."
Wenger has been criticised for a cautious approach to recruitment that has left the squad short of numbers and experience at the decisive stage of the season.
Funds are available but the Gunners boss is convinced the club, who were knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool on Tuesday, can compete without spending big.
"We have gone for a policy and have to stick with it," he said.
"It's very difficult to change the policy when you're in the middle of it and of course you destroy the work you've completed in the previous years.
"We are very close to our rivals and we have to keep this team together.
"We fight with Chelsea who lose over £100million per year and we make £50million per year.
"We still have to beat them and if we don't beat them then it's viewed as a disaster. I have to take a better perspective on it.
"We play against Manchester United tomorrow and how much money have they spent on players? But I still believe we can beat them."
Wenger will be hoping for a more palatable outcome than on Arsenal's last trip to Old Trafford, when they were spanked 4-0 in the FA Cup.
That result, conceded by a disinterested side more focused on their Champions League clash with AC Milan four days later, has been identified as a pivotal moment of the season.
But Wenger is adamant it has no bearing on Sunday's heavyweight showdown and is confident Arsenal can still reclaim the Premiership title they last won in 2004.
"We didn't go for the FA Cup this year, frankly. That match will have now influence on our behaviour tomorrow," he said.
"If you look at the expectations everyone had for us, if we were not to win anything now it would not be a huge disappointment.
"Nobody expected us to be in the top four so why is it suddenly a huge disappointment that we might not win anything?
"But first let's play tomorrow because my expectations are still very high."
According to The Times, Wenger is 'adamant that his young players have the talent and the temperament to win leading trophies and will give many of them the chance to do so next season.' Despite being offered a £35m transfer budget by the club's board, Wenger is set to only make a few tweaks to his squad and will stubbornly resist the temptation to make a 'big-name signing.'
Although Wenger has reportedly acknowledged the need to sign an 'an experienced defender' - possibly at the expense of either Philippe Senderos or Johan Djourou - The Times says that 'he is likely to focus his efforts on securing the best of the upcoming generation, with Hatem Ben Arfa, the 20-year-old Lyons winger, a top target.'
The general inexperience of the current Arsenal squad has been cited as a salient factor in their Premiership decline and exit from the Champions League. With an average age of around 23, it is the youngest of the Big Four. However, with its two elder statesmen, Gilberto Silva and Jens Lehmann, both bound to depart in the summer, the probability is that Arsenal's squad will be even more youthful next season. Having already insisted that he plans to give more games to the likes of Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner in 2008/09, Wenger is also understood to be planning to solve the Gunners' obvious deficiency on the flanks by recalling Carlos Vela and Fran Merida from their current loan spells in Spain.
I don't know about Merida, but I have seen Carlos Vela play and the guy is really, relly good. Arsenal definitely have a strong squd and I will be hapy if Wenger really doesn't spend in the summer.
Article No.2
GUNNERS PAYING PRICE FOR YOUTH POLICY
-Football365
Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal are suffering the consequences of their reliance on youth as their season teeters on the brink of ruin.
Wenger's young Gunners defied all expectations by starting the season at a blistering pace and establishing a five-point lead at the Premier League summit.
But inconsistency and bad luck have undermined their campaign since February and failure to beat Manchester United will crush their remote title hopes.
A third consecutive season without silverware beckons but Wenger refuses to abandon his preference for nurturing emerging talent over signing expensive superstars.
The Frenchman accepts his players have proved fallible at key moments this season but is adamant they have the class to succeed.
"When you go for a youth policy you know about the price you must pay," he said.
"We knew that we had to enter March with a big advantage but now we have no special pressure on us and we can use that to our favour.
"Big moments in big games have gone against us. We have to think about that at the end of the season and try to rectify it.
"Last month we were 1-0 up against Chelsea with 17 minutes to go but lost the game 2-1. We had the game in our hands, we just had to grab it.
"At decisive moments in games we have shown a lack of maturity and that's what's gone wrong for us recently. It's only maturity, not quality."
Wenger has been criticised for a cautious approach to recruitment that has left the squad short of numbers and experience at the decisive stage of the season.
Funds are available but the Gunners boss is convinced the club, who were knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool on Tuesday, can compete without spending big.
"We have gone for a policy and have to stick with it," he said.
"It's very difficult to change the policy when you're in the middle of it and of course you destroy the work you've completed in the previous years.
"We are very close to our rivals and we have to keep this team together.
"We fight with Chelsea who lose over £100million per year and we make £50million per year.
"We still have to beat them and if we don't beat them then it's viewed as a disaster. I have to take a better perspective on it.
"We play against Manchester United tomorrow and how much money have they spent on players? But I still believe we can beat them."
Wenger will be hoping for a more palatable outcome than on Arsenal's last trip to Old Trafford, when they were spanked 4-0 in the FA Cup.
That result, conceded by a disinterested side more focused on their Champions League clash with AC Milan four days later, has been identified as a pivotal moment of the season.
But Wenger is adamant it has no bearing on Sunday's heavyweight showdown and is confident Arsenal can still reclaim the Premiership title they last won in 2004.
"We didn't go for the FA Cup this year, frankly. That match will have now influence on our behaviour tomorrow," he said.
"If you look at the expectations everyone had for us, if we were not to win anything now it would not be a huge disappointment.
"Nobody expected us to be in the top four so why is it suddenly a huge disappointment that we might not win anything?
"But first let's play tomorrow because my expectations are still very high."
