If that was the case why would Wenger tolerate it?
Can't see him as the martyr destroying his reputation for the sake of a few old men making a lot of money.
As much as I would love to wish that the restrictions (not buying top players) were imposed by the board because it is devastating watching Wenger decline from the man who created the Invincibles to the man that gave Denilson 150+ appearances, logically I can't see that to be the case given his actions in the past.