It is now 11 years since Arsenal won the Premier League, but it will not be lack of money stopping Arsene Wenger’s side challenging for the title this season.
Arsenal director Lord Harris admits the move to the Emirates nine years ago meant money was tight for a while, but now the club have the finances in place to sign a big-name striker and challenge for major trophies.
‘Money was tight when we moved to the Emirates but it’s a lot freer now,’ said the 72-year-old carpet tycoon at his office in Orpington, Kent.
‘We could go into the market and probably buy any player in the world. In the accounts, there’s more than £200million in the bank.
‘We would back Arsene to break the club’s transfer record. If he wanted the man, he could have him. Apart from Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, he could have any player. We will probably have to break the club record to get the man he wants.
‘He wanted a top goalkeeper, so we went out and got him. John Terry said that Petr Cech will gain us 15 points a year, which would have won us the league last season. Since Jens Lehmann or David Seaman, we’ve not had a world-class goalie.’
Cech will shore up Arsenal’s defence but questions still linger over Wenger’s attacking options. The club looked at Raheem Sterling, but Lord Harris has no regrets about missing out to Manchester City.
He said: ‘Sterling is a very, very good player but I’m pleased Arsenal didn’t sign him. He’s got a lot to learn. The way he treated Liverpool wasn’t good. Arsene does a lot of work on the players before they get to us and he doesn’t take any nonsense.’
Wenger is 65 and has two years left on his contract but the board are keen for him to stay beyond that. Lord Harris said:
‘I see no reason why Arsene shouldn’t stay beyond his contract, if he wants to. I’m sure we will want him to stay because he’s a good manager and the players respect him. Two or three years ago, when the crowd came after him, you could tell he was concerned but I wouldn’t say he came close to leaving.
‘He’s exactly the same as you see in the media — bright, determined and very conscientious about his players. He’s so fit and motivated that we hope he stays longer.’
While Wenger is left to his own devices with footballing decisions, Lord Harris has an active role behind the scenes involving business matters such as sponsorship and ticketing.
He also has a strong grasp of local rivalries. With Tottenham planning to develop White Hart Lane into a 61,000 stadium, there have been suggestions of a temporary ground-share with Arsenal.
But Lord Harris feels such proposals would struggle to get off the ground. ‘With the supporters being so different, I think it would be impossible to share a ground,’ he said. ‘I don’t think it could work.
‘Tottenham are probably five years behind us now with their development. I don’t think we’re five years behind Real Madrid.’
Lord Harris also used Tottenham’s post-Gareth Bale spending as an example of how money does not guarantee success.
He said: ‘Tottenham sold a player for £80m, spent £110m and ended up worse off. Arsene doesn’t think you should bring in more than three first-team players in one season because it takes too long for them to link up.
‘He knows how to produce players, too. We’ve got four or five very good youngsters coming through. With a bit of luck with injuries, I think we can challenge strongly for the Premier League and Champions League.’ – Daily Mail