Wenger makes BOLD Arsenal statement after summer spending spree

Cameron Smith

• 17 Jul 2023 08:22 BST
• 3 min read

Arsene Wenger believes his former club Arsenal will win the 2023/24 Premier League season after their impressive summer business.

So far, the Gunners have signed Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice for a combined €226.6 million as they look to go one better than last year after finishing second to Manchester City, despite leading the way for the majority of the campaign.

MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals

Furthermore, they fought off competition from City to land Rice, who became Arsenal’s most expensive signing of all time, as well as breaking Jack Grealish’s British record.

Mikel Arteta’s side paid an initial €116.6m to sign West Ham’s Rice, but Wenger believes they haven’t overspent to land the England international.

MORE: ‘I f***ing begged Rice to join Arsenal’

What has Wenger said?

Speaking to Eurosport at the 2023 Tour de France, Wenger said: “I think it is a good investment. Overall, personally I think they have made good buys as they are players who are now mature, 23, 24, and still young so can stay together for a few years.

“They will be under more pressure after last year, but they have learned a lot and they can show they can deal with that pressure now. I had to cope with no money at all, so you have to find a different way.

“Arsenal is now in a good financial situation and bought what they think will win the championship. I believe we will win the championship, it is as simple as that. I have less doubts for Arsenal than the cycling today!”

Wenger is a friend of Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme and enjoyed stage 15 of this year’s race in the back of the director sportif’s car.

The Frenchman was also in the dugout when Arsenal last won the Premier League - back in 2004. That was the year of the famous Invincibles, but the Gunners have been unable to relive past glories since that day, with Manchester United, Chelsea, and most recently Manchester City enjoying periods of dominance in the English top flight.