Wenger: Let’s go for a night out, then you’ll see

Daniel Storey

Arsene Wenger has rejected claims that he doesn’t like to spend money.

Wenger has received staunch criticism after Francis Coquelin sustained a knee ligament injury, leaving Arsenal with Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta as options for the defensive midfield role.

After the 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb, during which big-money signings Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil both scored and played brilliantly, Wenger refuted the suggestion that he doesn’t like to spend money.

“No, I don’t agree with you. I invite you out one night and you will see that I like to spend money,” Wenger said.

“It’s you, the press, who gave me that reputation, but my friends don’t think that.”

Wenger also believes Arsenal still have a chance of qualification. Tuesday’s results leaves them requiring a victory by a two-goal margin against Olympiakos, or by a scoreline of 3-2. 4-3, 5-4 etc.

“We wanted to come out of the game with a chance to qualify. We needed to do the job and Bayern needed to do the job. Both did it well and it gives us a chance,” Wenger said.

“How big the chance is I don’t know, but I believe we can do it. If you can win 1-0 you can win 2-0 as well. For us the task has one advantage – it’s very clear.”