Stadium will save Gunners: Wenger

ARSENE WENGER has admitted Arsenal would have died a long, slow death at the top level if they had not built the spectacular Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners move into their new 60,000-capacity home at the start of next season, with club officials predicting the extra revenue will catapult them into European soccer’s financial big league alongside Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Although Wenger will have to wrestle with the financial constraints imposed by the £357m his club have invested in the ground, the Frenchman needed no convincing about the need to quit Highbury.

He may have enjoyed so many of his greatest triumphs at the famous old ground, but if Arsenal were to prosper, Wenger accepted they needed to quit Highbury.

“The project was vital,” he said.

“It was that or die over the longer term at the top level. It is as simple as that. The new stadium will increase the potential of the club by 50% once the money is paid back and for us that means increasing turnover from £100m to £150m. It will put us up to the level of Manchester United.

“Maybe I will have gone by the time the money has been paid back but that is part of the destiny. I will feel very happy when I do go knowing I have left the club in good hands, with a good team and a fantastic structure.”

Wenger is experienced enough to know the financial trauma which can be suffered by clubs who divert all their resources towards a ground rather than the team.

It is one of the reasons he has invested so heavily in youth over the past three years, with Cesc Fabregas, Jose Antonio Reyes and Philippe Senderos among the youngsters now looking set for brilliant Arsenal futures.

Although the financial impact has not been quite as restrictive as the worst-case scenario Wenger was working towards, the Gunners chief has been reluctant to spend cash on players he does not believe will improve his squad significantly.

No replacement has been brought in for departed skipper Patrick Vieira, with Wenger apparently not interested in Newcastle’s wantaway England man Jermaine Jenas.

“I do not believe we should just spend money for the sake of it,” he said.

“If I find the right player we have money but I am convinced we already have a great team.”