Chelsea paying on the double for signings, says Wenger

ARSENE WENGER declared that Chelsea were paying double the normal market value of players such as Shaun Wright-Phillips as he refused to be lured into wasting his remaining transfer kitty.

Wright-Phillips, the 23-year-old adopted son of former Arsenal legend Ian Wright, had been tipped as a potential Highbury signing before Chelsea swooped at a cost of £21 million.

With Asier del Horno also recruited, while Michael Essien could still be on his way to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have continued their multi-million pound spending spree.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have bought only Alexander Hleb in a deal that could be worth up to £10 million, while Patrick Vieira has been sold for £13.7 million and Julio Baptista has moved to Real Madrid instead of Highbury.

Wenger, who again ruled out a move for Michael Owen as he would not dove-tail with Thierry Henry, declared: "It is not Chelsea's fault or my fault, it is just like it is.

"But everyone knows that they have plenty of money and, when they come in, they will buy for £20million what otherwise costs £10million.

"Do you really think Wright-Phillips would have cost £21 million had Chelsea not come in for him?

"Frankly, we have to be honest. What would be his price?"

When a figure of £10million to £12million was suggested, the Arsenal boss responded: "Exactly. There are two markets, one when Chelsea is in, which is quite lively and high, and one when Chelsea is not in, which is morose - all over Europe."

Without Chelsea's interest, Essien would presumably have been another target for Wenger, but he insists that he is not worried by the loss of Vieira without a direct replacement.

"What do you want me to do, go to the casino with the money?" asked Wenger, who faces Chelsea in Sunday's Community Shield tie.

"I could understand that the fans would be frustrated if we played bad football and didn't win our games but not because we haven't spent money. That's not a reason to be frustrated.

"I am not envious of Chelsea.

"There is a way to be successful and beat Chelsea despite the fact that they have more money than anybody else," he said.

"There are enough good players in the world that you can always get good players. Real Madrid have spent more than Valencia, but they haven't won any trophies for two years."

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has described his own task of adding to his talented squad as one of the hardest jobs in the game.

However, Wenger insisted: "There are much more difficult jobs out there than I have, don't worry. I cannot feel sorry. I don't know what the situation is at Chelsea.

"I just know about my situation. I have worked very hard on the youth policy and I must find a player who is better than Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto Silva to replace Patrick. "At the moment, I have not found one. I don't want to buy a player for the sake of buying a player."

Wenger is poised to bring in Uruguay international goalkeeper Sebastian Vieira from Penarol, either on a loan deal or a permanent basis.

"Maybe he will join us. That will be decided tomorrow as long as the medical and financial reasons are sorted out," he revealed.

Wenger has nevertheless delayed a decision on triallists Philippe Christanval and Alex Song, while he has no intention of performing a U-turn on his decision not to bid for Owen.