Quite surprised that this has become a financial argument. For me, the reason why I am no longer interested in talk of how much we have to spend is that 2 clubs - Everton and Liverpool - have shown that arguments about Arsenal's cash reserves are facile. That is part of the watershed for me. Never before have teams with their own financial concerns pushed us so hard.
Financially, it is a disgrace that AFC has encouraged a situation where we make money for billionaire shareholders who have invested nothing on the playing side. But it is IMHO a sign of how diminished we have become as a club that we plead poverty to excuse a lack of ambition, and a lack of success.
If you look at the cold, hard facts - we have finished pretty much where we should have done in terms of financial resources for the past decade. Yet we praise our manager for achieving parity. I believe that Wenger has not exceeded expectations. He has met them. And in his biggest spending season he is in danger of performing below what should be expected from a club of our stature.
I have a fondness for Wenger now - but I have become disenchanted by the way in which he has milked our goodwill for recurring seasons.
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