Arsenal legend Perry Groves has hit out at Arsene Wenger’s transfer policy since moving to the Emirates Stadium in 2006.
Wenger was a big success in his earlier years at Arsenal, bringing three league titles and four FA Cups to Highbury, but Groves believes his transfer policy in the last six years has not worked.
Arsenal were in the title race for much of last season, but a dreadful run of form at the end of the season saw them finish fourth, and Groves believes the manager has to change his policy in the transfer market this summer.
“The frustrating thing is [the Premier League] was Arsenal’s to win last year.
“But because they didn’t have the dominant centre-half which they could have gone and got in January that’s why [they didn’t win the league] and that’s why Arsene’s policy over two or three years has been proven wrong.
“There has been two phases when Arsene Wenger has been in charge. On the pitch from 1996-2004 that is how you structure a football team. Off the pitch from 2005-2011 is how you structure a football club, going from Highbury to the Emirates.
“Arsenal fans, the real die-hard ones, want trophies and that is the real be all and end all of how you’re judged as a football club manager.”
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