Arsene Wenger: 'Football is not a financial competition'

Arsene Wenger has insisted that money alone will not secure Manchester United the Premier League title.

As Arsenal prepare for their season-opener against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, Wenger has once again expressed his bemusement at the riches being spent by the Old Trafford club this summer.

And the Frenchman is convinced that paying out in excess of £150million on players will not guarantee United a return to the division's summit.



Arsene Wenger has again expressed his bemusement at football's summer spending spree


The Arsenal manager is preparing his players for their Premier League opener on Sunday


Paul Pogba cost Manchester United £100m and took their total summer outlay past £150m

'Man United is the richest club in the world so not many teams can compete on a financial amount but I feel it doesn't make a difference because on the pitch we can compete and that is most important,' he said.

'It's not a financial competition, football.

ARSENAL'S FIRST FIVE MATCHES


Aug 14: Liverpool (h, 4pm)

Aug 20: Leicester (a, 5.30pm)

Aug 27: Watford (a, 3pm)

Sep 10: Southampton (h, 3pm)

Sep 17: Hull (a, 3pm)

'The financial competition does not always reflect specifically in the table. Leicester has shown that last year.'

Wenger claimed to be surprised rather than tired by the exaggerated spending of the rest of the league's top clubs.

While the Gunners boss has made just one high-profile acquisition since the end of last season - the £35million capture of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach - United, Manchester City and Chelsea have all invested heavily in their squads prior to the start of the new campaign.



Wenger believes football can still be won on the pitch and not just with money



Jose Mourinho will renew his rivalry with the Frenchman after taking over at United


Wenger expected an increase in transfer fees but is frustrated by this summer's rise

'We knew that would happen, it was not difficult to anticipate,' Wenger said when pushed on the topic of increased transfer fees in the English top flight.

'It was difficult to imagine five or 10 years ago but maybe it's a consequence of the success and popularity of the Premier League.

ARSENAL'S SUMMER SIGNINGS


Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach, £35m)

Rob Holding (Bolton, £2m)

Takuma Asano (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)

'If your opponent pays £40m, if you want the player you have to pay £45m.

'We just try to compete at our level with all the assets we have.'

Meanwhile, Wenger would not comment on the impending arrival of Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi at the Emirates.

Mustafi's agent said a deal between the player and the club had been agreed but Arsenal still need to finalise terms with the Spanish outfit.



Arsenal are trying to complete a £30m to sign Skhodran Mustafi from Valencia



The Gunners are short on defender with Per Mertesacker ruled out for four months


Gabriel is also set for as long as eight weeks on the sidelines with an ankle problem

The Gunners desperately need reinforcements in their defensive line after Wenger confirmed that Per Mertesacker would be out for four months with a knee injury and Gabriel will miss up to eight weeks with an ankle problem.

'Per Mertesacker is out for four months and Gabriel six to eight weeks, which is a bit better than expected because he doesn't need surgery,' he said.

'He ruptured his ankle ligament. At the start we thought it could be four months.'

Laurent Koscielny is the third Arsenal defender to be absent for the visit of Liverpool.


Laurent Koscielny has been ruled out of the game against Liverpool this weekend