Despite spending big when the right deal has come along, one of the biggest criticisms Arsenal fans have of their beloved manager Arsène Wenger is his reluctance to splash the cash on a yearly basis.
The signings of Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez over the past few seasons have been enough to placate the Emirates faithful, but there is an underlying feeling the Gunners could have, and probably should have, spent more.
Even when answering journalists with ‘If I invite you out one night, you will see that I like to spend money’, it’s quite hard to take him seriously, and it appears David Dein has shed some light on whether or not Wenger’s frugality is solely job-based.
It isn’t.
Speaking to L’Equipe, who have a special edition on Arsène Wenger on Friday, Arsenal’s former vice-president explained how difficult it was to get the Frenchman a birthday present.
He said: “On the 22nd of October, Arsène will celebrate his 67th birthday. I’ve scratched my head for a present idea. He doesn’t need anything, he doesn’t spend anything. He has a nice car, but doesn’t use it.
“It’ll be a good deal when he sells it on. I finally found it. I’m going to get him a better satellite dish, meaning he’ll get more channels and will be able to watch even more football.”
When it comes to Wenger, it seems spending money is a rare occurrence, even in his day to day life.
Arsenal fans will be thrilled to hear that.
