6 Aug 2009Dein: Arsenal are in the Stone Ages

Football Clubs News | Football Finance News

Arsenal are in the 'Stone Age' compared to rivals such as Manchester United because of the lack of football finance on offer, according to former vice-chairman David Dein.

The English Premier League club have failed to win a trophy since Dein left the boardroom in 2007 and had to battle hard against Aston Villa and Everton last season to ensure UEFA Champions League football for the upcoming campaign.

And with those clubs alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City spending money in a bid to break into the top four, Arsenal may also need to get their chequebook out to consolidate their position.

However, Dein remarks that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has never had the spending privileges of his rival managers and that is causing the club to slip behind.

He is quoted as saying in the new book, Arsenal – The Making of a Modern Super Club: "Compared to Manchester United, we are in the Stone Age.

"Have they [the directors] ever said, 'Arsene, don't have a conscience over the cost. We've gone past that stage now. We've got to be brave and bold in the market. Just tell us, how much do you need to win the Champions League'?"

Arsenal have signed Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax in the close season, but then sold Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.

Written by Craig Kemp

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