Wenger angered by fans’ chant of ‘spend money on new players’

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hit out at criticism of his club’s transfer policy after he once again came under pressure from supporters to spend money on new players.

Wenger has made only one major close-season signing, recruiting Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Moenchengladbach for a reported fee of £35 million.

Xhaka made his full debut in Saturday’s 0-0 Premier League draw at champions Leicester City, but the visiting supporters made their displeasure plain by chanting: “Spend some money!”

Asked by a reporter after the game why he was reluctant to part with the club’s cash, Wenger replied: “Why do you say I’m reluctant? I don’t understand that.

“If I buy you tomorrow for 45 million, I’ve spent 45 million. Have I done well, yes? If I listen to you, I will have done well, because I have spent the money. But spending the money in itself is not a quality.

“Spending the money and buying a top player, that is different. We are ready to do that. I (will) spend 300 million if I find the player, if I have the 300 million.

“I have not to forget as well that we are a club who has 600 employees who we need to have a responsible attitude (towards) as well.

“It’s a bit surprising that you come out of football games, you don’t speak about football. You have to speak about money.

“I believe that you have to respect the players who have played, the performance that has been done today by those teams.

“If we can find players who can strengthen our team, we are not reluctant to spend the money.”