“This season will be very hard because of the top clubs spending a lot of money on transfers, it’s unbelievable”.
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Vieira said he could not understand why the club were not allowing former players such as Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires both to develop their own coaching and management skills and help to influence and inspire the next generation of players coming through. While it is a positive news, many Gunners’ fans are starting to think that if this is the reason Arsene Wenger is not signing a striker.
Arsene Wenger is still confident that Arsenal will sign a defender before the transfer window closes even though he admits that it is harder than ever for English clubs to find value in the market, especially at centre-back.
When asked about the protracted deal to sign Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi, Wenger added: “I believe it is better I don’t talk about any individual player”. If I buy you tomorrow for £45m, I have spent £45m, and I would have done well because I will have listened to you, but spending the money in itself is not a quality. It’s a bit surprising that you come out of football games and you don’t speak about football, you have to speak about money.
“I don’t think he has something special against us, I don’t see why he would”.
Arsenal are desperate for reinforcements after having to play Rob Holding and Calum Chambers at centre-back against Liverpool on Sunday, and losing 4-3.
Steve Bould is Wenger’s assistant, while Thierry Henry had a role with the under-18 side before leaving this summer in favour of his TV punditry work, but Vieira feels the club’s former players are underrepresented at the Emirates Stadium. “I am sorry he didn’t cost £55 million, so he can’t be good”.
“This Arsenal Invincibles was quite like the French national team when we won the World Cup in ’98, when we had physical players, players with flair, players with pace”. I believe the chances were there.
Frenchman Koscielny has not played since the Euro 2016 final but Wenger may have no choice but to risk him.
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Arsenal finished in second place in the Premier League table last season but 10 points behind Premier League champions Leicester City. “We analyse everything then make the right signings”. “I’m very, very happy for the effort, the spirit and the union of the team”.
