Stop acting like a director, Arsene

ARSENE WENGER must be every chairman's dream.

A thoughtful world-class coach who seemingly cares as much about his club's finances as he does their footballers.Thanks to their manager's prudence in the transfer market, Arsenal now have a stadium, training ground and a bank balance that are the envy of nearly all of their Premier League rivals.

The only place the Gunners are not showing a profit is in the trophy room.

Wenger has now gone six years without lifting a piece of silverware. The well has well and truly run dry. The only way he can fill it once more is by splashing the cash.

And that means he must start thinking like a manager again - not a director. For too long now, he appears to have been more concerned with balance sheets than clean sheets.

That is all very well when you are managing in the lower Leagues where money is tight.

But when you are boss of a club raking in millions of pounds every week you can afford some of football's little luxuries.

And after seeing his side lose 2-1 at Bolton on Sunday, that is exactly what Wenger needs to do.

Despite that shattering defeat leaving his third-placed team nine points behind leaders Manchester United with four games to play, the Frenchman insists his side are still fighting for the title.

While I admire his never-say-die spirit, I believe this is a battle he will not win.

Instead, he has to gear himself for an even more important battle when the season is over.

That is when he must fight his board for every penny the club can afford in his pursuit to sign new players.

And that defeat at the Reebok highlighted his goalkeeper and defence as positions that are priority for strengthening.

Wojciech Szczesny is an excellent keeper who will surely rise to the top of his field one day. But he is not there yet and nor do I believe he will be next season.

Arsenal and the confident Pole would benefit significantly from a top-class goalkeeper above him.

And if the club have the funds they claim they do, then they must surely do whatever they can to bring in the best. So why not splash out £30-£40million to sign Schalke's Manuel Neuer?

If Wenger is serious about challenging for honours then he needs to try to buy the best in every possible position.

Neuer proved with his display against Manchester United on Tuesday that he is definitely one of the top keepers in the world. Signing him would boost Arsenal's squad and send out a statement of intent.

Some might scoff and say that the fee is too big for a keeper.

But I remember the same thing being said when Brian Clough signed Peter Shilton for Nottingham Forest for £250,000 back in 1977.

What happened? A League title and two European Cups later, the same people were saying the price was a snip.

Neuer could have exactly the same effect on Arsenal.

Wenger has hinted he plans to make changes to his squad in the summer.

It does not need a major overhaul, just updating and improving.

There is no point him buying players as good as the ones he already has. He should be looking to buy the best.

I have heard it said Wenger does not want to spend money to buy players.

One thing is for sure, neither he nor Arsenal can continue as they are for much longer and expect to win trophies.

Wenger seems to be getting more and more frustrated on the touchline.

He is getting involved in spats he would never have got involved in before.

Not winning trophies and not having the best players in the Premier League at his disposal appears to have affected his personality - and not for the better.

He and Arsenal can be happy once more if he puts football, not finances, first.

(source : the sun)