Arsenal don't need big-money transfers, says Ivan Gazidis
Chief executive says title can no longer be 'bought' and must be earned by hard work and team spirit
Arsenal fans frustrated once again by a lack of summer transfer activity have been warned not to expect an influx of big-money signings as new recruits are no longer the key to winning the Premier League title.
Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis made the claims in an interview with ESPN, saying that the mammoth £10bn Sky TV deal has levelled the playing field financially and sides can no longer "buy" the trophy.
"The big clubs can't financially bully the smaller clubs in the way they used to," he said. "It's how well you can identify talent. It's how well you can develop talent. It's how strong your club philosophy is. It's how together you are as a football club, what your support services are like in the medical field, fitness, analytics, psychology. All of these things become differentiators."
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Leicester's success, he continued, was built on a team featuring signings from the French second division that boasted "great unity" and was underpinned by "great fitness work".
Arsenal have not won the title since 2004 and although they have signed expensive stars in recent years, including Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and summer recruit Granit Xhaka, they have not matched the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.
And while fans clamour for a new striker, that may not materialise this summer, says the Daily Mail, even though the Gunners have a transfer kitty of more than £100m.
"Arsenal have signed young Japan striker Takuma Asano as well as Xhaka but, given the belief in the current squad, there may be no further additions to Wenger's attacking options despite a long-term injury to Danny Welbeck and both Olivier Giroud and Sanchez set to miss the start of the season following international exertions."
The signing of young Bolton centre-back Rob Holding is indicative of the type of transfer business Arsenal prefer. The highly-rated 20-year-old player arrived in a deal worth around £2.5m.
"On a day in which Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazadis worried fans that this could be another inactive transfer window for the club, the signing of Holding will go a little way to appeasing supporters," says the Daily Telegraph.
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