Wenger fears Arsenal behind big-spenders

Arsenal may not only lag behind Premier League title contenders Manchester United and Manchester City but could face extinction in Europe.

Arsene Wenger expressed this fear when he conceded that Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona have raced ahead of all other clubs this season.

“I believe that this season, I see two teams that are above the rest - Real Madrid and Barcelona - and the rest have to catch up during the season,” Wenger told 'The Guardian' ahead of their Champions League group match against Borussia Dortmund.

“So for us, it’s a new start because we are a new squad. What is at stake during the group stage for us is to show that we can go through.
 
“We are in our 14th season in the Champions League group phase and what has changed is that the competition inside England has become bigger among the top teams. It is as difficult to win the Champions League because a team that wins the Premier League is in the Champions League final almost every year.
 
“Outside the country, Barca and Real Madrid have much more financial power than they had 14 years ago because they have individualised their TV rights. So they, at the moment, with teams like Man City and Chelsea can take who they want.”

Wenger strengthened his own squad on transfer deadline day by signing Park Chu-Young, Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos, Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta.

However, the Gunners’ tactician cautioned that even Europe’s richest clubs will soon feel the pinch, though, predicting a “financial crisis” to grip the continent, impacting upon the expenditure of all clubs.
 
“I believe that Europe overall, as a unit, is going towards a massive crisis, which nobody really expects now. I am convinced that Europe will go into a huge financial crisis within the next three weeks or three months and maybe that will put everything into perspective again.
 
“Football is not untouchable. We live with people going to the stadiums as well and from advertising from people who buy products. All our income could be a little bit under threat in the next few months. Football is not only about money. We believe in ourselves that we can compete with them but it’s as simple as this.”

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