Wenger hoping transfer magic can match United money
Wenger's dream of becoming the main force in England for the next decade now look overly optimistic after the title was conceded to Old Trafford and his own club's financial woes became starkly apparent. Arsenal are simply dwarfed by United's financial muscle and while Wenger is fully expecting Alex Ferguson to invest a further £30million this summer - without even selling David Beckham he has a budget of around £10m.
Wenger will have to wheel and deal while trying not to lose any leading player on a free transfer, giving added importance to ongoing contract talks with Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires.
However, Wenger's one hope for bridging the financial gulf with United is that the depressed transfer market should mean there are some bargains available. While he may have to spend most of his budget on a commanding centre-back, such as Phillipe Mexes, Phillipe Christanval, Kevin Hofland, John Terry or William Gallas, he could at least make savings elsewhere.
Wenger has already picked up Swiss teenage defender Philippe Senderos ahead of United and Liverpool, while he is surely more likely to sign Marcos at £2.4 million or Rustu Recber on a Bosman free transfer than Paul Robinson as his new keeper.
Any other signings would be a bonus, with only Kanu or Francis Jeffers likely to bring in any revenue in the other direction, although he could always try to take advantage of West Ham's plight if they are relegated by snapping up Michael Carrick.
Wenger said: "The most important thing is to keep the players I have as I have faith in them, and then strengthen the squad if I can.
"It may be considered a disaster at this club to finish second but it's not too bad as we have a 50 per cent less budget than United.
"Will the financial gap get any bigger? I don't know yet, but I hope we find a magician. Even Uri Geller couldn't do it.
"Last year, United lost the championship and reacted by buying Rio Ferdinand for £30million. They will buy again for £30million this summer.
"That doesn't mean we will lose the title next season. I still think we will do everything to win it and try to get the additions to the squad that will strengthen our team. Of course, if by coincidence, I'm on the same player they are, then I'll have to look somewhere else. But I will be creative and will find the players with the money I have. Trust me."
Wenger certainly has a superb record of signing midfielders and strikers in cut-price deals before transforming their careers as Henry and Vieira bear witness.
However, his record with defenders is largely poor, apart from Sol Campbell, and Arsenal have suffered from not bringing through enough players from their academy.
Ashley Cole is the only one to have made the grade recently, although Stuart Taylor, Jermaine Pennant, Jeremie Aliadiere and Kolo Toure are on the verges of the first-team squad.
Matthew Upson nevertheless left to seek first-team football at Birmingham City, while the next generation highlighted by Wenger Moritz Volz, Sebastian Svard, Ryan Garry and David Bentley are still some way off being the finished article.
Wenger argued that it takes an "exceptional talent", such as Cole or Wayne Rooney, to make the breakthrough any quicker and insisted that United have similarly struggled to strengthen their squad.
"They have brought through John O'Shea this season, while Wes Brown is in and out, but they are the only players they've brought through in the past five years. They had a generation but that was eight years ago."
He believes other clubs will continue to challenge United but warned fans they have no divine right to be up there in the top two as they have been for the past six seasons.
"That's remarkably consistent and it's a huge sign of quality but it's no guarantee. Tottenham and Newcastle have as much money as us, and Liverpool too."
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