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Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi has criticised the club's supporters for their inability to understand the 'economic limitations' which prevent the club from matching the ability to spend like Chelsea and Manchester City in the transfer market.
Grimandi, 41, who is now the Gunners’ chief scout in France, also hints that Arsene Wenger was forced into panic buys, at the expense of quality, towards the end of the transfer window after the departure of his star players, Fabregas and Nasri.
‘The fans want us to bring in star names, but they don't all grasp our economic limitations,’ Grimandi said.
‘There are no proven big stars currently on the market. Besides we are not competing on a level playing field with Manchester City and Chelsea.
‘Our means are limited by comparison and our pay structure prevents us going crazy when we sign players.’
‘We were left with little time to act in the transfer window and we opted to pad out our squad in terms of numbers.’
Grimandi also believes Wenger's squad, currently suffering the club's worst start to a domestic campaign in nearly 60 years, is too prone to injury and will only prove to be 'nuisance' in this year’s title race.
‘We have so many injuries because we keep hold of the ball more than other teams and this exposes the team to more knocks from opponents’, Grimandi told the Daily Express.
‘It is also because we have a lot of small-sized players, and the fact we take part in so many competitions increases risk of injury.’
‘We are convinced we have a good team, which can play a spoilsport role in the league this season. We have some quality and have to believe in our work.’
Written by Nikunj Merchant
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