Fa Barclaycard Premiership News Update

Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 28 November 2008 )

English Premiership football News

Arsenal promise cash for signings
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood says manager Arsene Wenger has money to spend in the January transfer window.

The Gunners are fifth in the Fa Barclaycard Premiership having already lost five games Cold Adrift and 10 points of leaders Chelsea, who play on Sunday.

Wenger prefers to develop young players that go but Arsenal are without a trophy since 2005 and supporters have called for Wenger to strengthen his team.

"It certainly has the money if he wants to spend it," Hill-Wood told Arsenal TV.

"There have been suggestions that we keep stopping the purchase - this is not the case.

"It is very sensitive to how it approaches the transfer market, it will not buy just because anybody the press or fans, it should say.

"It will buy someone if I think they will improve what is a young but very talented one."

Wenger has spent modestly since his arrival in 1996, but since the move from Arsenal to the Emirates Stadium in 2006.

Last summer saw Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb, Gilberto Silva and Philippe Senderos (loan) leave the club, while Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey, Amaury Bischoff and Mikael Silvestre were in.

Wenger, who was disappointed to lose off-contract Flamini, Bischoff was admitted a "gamble" and revealed the club at the Annual General Meeting in October he has been frustrated in its pursuit Half a center.

Earlier this month Wenger said of his plans for the transfer window: "This is far from being decided.

"We will make a check at the end of December and we'll see. We have had many players and we showed a great team that can win the big games. "

Arsenal have 18 goals this season, compared to Chelsea four, and have a goal difference of +7, compared to Chelsea for 28.

Their position suggests the Champions League, in which Arsenal have qualified for the knock-out phase with a game remaining, May be a realistic goal.

Wenger's men reached the final of Europe's elite club competition in 2006 when they succumbed to two late goals in Barcelona a 2-1 defeat in Paris.

"I want to finish in the top four in the league, and maybe (win) the Champions League," said Hill-Wood.

"We played very well in Europe so far on the whole, and that it would be very nice.

"We got to the finals in Paris. We were up there, and that it would be wonderful to win."

Flamini, who was part of the team from AC Milan, which drew 2.2 to Portsmouth in the UEFA Cup Thursday, has backed Arsenal to recover from their early season troubles, including William Gallas be stripped of the Captaincy after criticizing his team-mates in public.

"Big clubs can have difficult times but Arsenal have great quality and I am sure they will move forward," said the Frenchman.

"They have incredible players and the important thing is to continue the job well and I am sure they will be ok.

"It's never easy in the Premier League, it is difficult, physically and every game is like a big battle. It is important to trust Arsène Wenger, he has done great things and we'll see.

"I understand William, I wanted a reaction from his teammates and I hope that this will lead to a positive response from the team and I hope that will start against Chelsea.

"They are a great team, but against the big teams Arsenal still produced a great game."
by bbcnews.