Arsene Wenger hits back at Jose Mourinho over claims Arsenal are ‘buying’ the title

Arsene Wenger, left, and his Arsenal side face Jose Mourinho, right, and Chelsea in the Community Shield on Sunday. Paul Gilham / Getty Images

Arsene Wenger has rejected claims from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho that Arsenal have abandoned their cautious transfer approach.

Mourinho has suggested totting up Arsenal’s spending in the last two years leads to a “surprise”, resuming his sparring with Wenger.

Mourinho has labelled Arsenal as genuine contenders for this year's Premier League title, before the two teams clash in the Community Shield on Sunday at Wembley Stadium.

Wenger responded by saying Arsenal spend within their means, and will not fret too much about outside opinions.

“We spend when we think we have to spend and do not listen too much to what people think or say,” Wenger said.

“We just try to make the right decisions. When we have the money available, we spend it. When we don’t have the money, we don’t spend the money we haven’t got.”

MORE PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS

Arsenal have spent almost £150 million (Dh859.9m) since the summer of 2013, breaking their transfer record for Mesut Ozil last year and signing Petr Cech from Chelsea last month.

Chelsea’s own investment in that time amounts to almost £235m.

Mourinho dropped heavy hints in his comments that Arsenal are title contenders simply because of their two-year spending spree.

Wenger threw out that notion, however, claiming Arsenal still lead the way on producing home-grown talent.

“I believe that one day if you make real statistics of the players we have developed here and compare them to the other clubs, you will be surprised,” Wenger said.

“I think what you want is not to listen too much to what people say, because sometimes in the same week I get two different reproaches: one I don’t spend enough and one too much.

“I believe if you want to create success, which we want desperately, is to focus on inside and try to do as well as we can, believe in the football we want to play, play it as well as we can and let other people talk.”

Wenger refused to rule out further signings before the start of the new Premier League campaign but scotched suggestions Calum Chambers could return to former club Southampton on loan.

“They didn’t try to get him back on loan and I will not consider it. Not at the moment,” Wenger said.

“I want to develop him as a centre-back and at the moment we have just the right number. He will get games here.”

Former Chelsea stalwart Cech will face his old club for the first time this weekend at Wembley, with Wenger backing the 33-year-old Czech to add steel to Arsenal’s defence.

“He can improve the level of communication at the back and bring his experience to the defenders and bring a calmness to defenders in some heated situations into our team,” Wenger said.

“On both fronts communication, of course, is in a different class, and as well I think his calmness will be vital; it is important you are calm.

“I believe that Petr Cech was already at the top but I believe that you can never deny that you can improve. From his experience, he will still improve.

“He’s at the stage of his career, between 33 and 37, where a goalkeeper can be at his peak, and he has the desire.

“As long as you have the right attitude, you can always improve in life.

“I don’t think it’s down to different training methods, it’s just down to him to keep at the top physically and with his experience he will always improve.”

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NatSportUAE