Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that the top players in world football want to join team’s that are competing in the Champions League and he believes once his side secure a place in the group stages, he will be able to secure players a lot easier.
The Gunners are one-step closer to the Champions League proper after thrashing Fenerbache 3-0 in Turkey on Wednesday night thanks to goals from Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud, however, they know that the job is not 100% done as of yet.
Wenger has not had a successful summer transfer wise so far. After failing to sign numerous big-names, he has only been able to capture Yaya Sanogo and is close to re-signing Mathieu Flamini on a free.
However, the Arsenal boss believes as soon as his side are guaranteed a Champions League place, he will find signing players a lot easier.
“Everybody says to us, ‘You are happy with Champions League football’,” he said. “Of course we are happy with it – but we want more.
“I can guarantee you that every player who wants to join us, the first question is ‘Do you play in the Champions League or not?’ It is as simple as that. That is the first requirement of the top, top, top level players.
“You would be surprised how early [in the summer] we acted. In our job sometimes you can spend a lot of time and not go on holiday to work on things and it does not come off. That is part of our job.
“It is a question of patience, of continuing to be completely focused on it. Sometimes nothing happens for five or six weeks and then in 24 hours you can do two or three good deals. It is not predictable.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt