Arsenal might be on a high after defeating Chelsea on Saturday night, but it is no secret that they need reinforcements with the window hurtling towards its end.
Former player, Nigel Winterburn has said that the club needs money to push on from where they are currently and that the idea of being a ‘self-funding’ club is unsustainable in the current market.
Speaking to Love Sport radio, Winterburn said: “Obviously, I don’t know the nitty gritty runnings of the football club but looking from the outside it almost seems to me that Arsenal want to be a self-funding club, and I’m thinking that if we want to get back to challenging Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United – who are going to spend more money, and Chelsea who will probably spend again – then we’re going to have to find some money from somewhere.
“But we’re going to find ourselves in this frustrating period where we’ve made some progression but we’re still a way off challenging for the title again.”
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He added: “Is the money there? That’s the question we want to know because if you hear from the manager that we can only get a loan signing in January then that doesn’t suggest to me that there is lots of money around unless what they’re saying is January is not the right time to go out and buy, let’s see what happens and we’ll be back in the market for the start of next season.
“I could understand that. That would make sense. But we’re not hearing that. It’s a guessing game with Arsenal and we’ll just have to wait and see.”
As for where Arsenal might end up come the summer, Winterburn hopes for the best: “I’d like to see, and I hope it will happen but I’ve no idea, is that coming into the last five games we’re in a position to get into that top four.
“I think it is fourth position. I think that is as realistic as we can be. I don’t see us being able to get any higher than that with the teams around us. So, if we were to snatch that fourth place, that would be some progression but then we would need to see that progression the following season.
“From an Arsenal point of view, from a supporters’ point of view, we just want to see some progression and eventually getting back to challenging for the title, but how long that is going to be is a question I wish I could answer for you!”