Trevheff wrote:I'm certainly no Wenger sympathiser, quite the opposite with every passing game as it happens. And following our new found financial footing, failure to invest heavily in the squad now carries no defence.
But to try and compare Arsenal v Chelsea in the period 2005-2012 and not consider the different financial positions of the clubs is ignorant and stupid if trying to make a serious argument. Mourinho was not only thrown a bottomless transfer kitty when he arrived in 2004 but Chelsea had the market to themselves. The Arabs, PSG, Monaco etc were not on the scene. By contrast, not only did Arsenal not have that bottomless pit they went in the opposite direction and had to pay for the stadium move. Whatever lines we were spun by the Board at the time about the immediate benefits of leaving Highbury, it is fact. Chelsea could and did spend like mad and buy the best players in the world, we were on a shoe string by comparison and had to sell the best players in the world.
Had Mourinho been at Arsenal 2005 - 2012 would he had have won the same number of trophies as he has at Chelsea? No. Would he have won more than Wenger? Possibly. Probably. But the point is Arsenal v Chelsea in that 7/8 year period was not an even playing field so it's a stupid comparison.
But all that said, Wenger can no longer spin the money line. He no longer has that excuse.
And I also agree that this silly verbal jousting is all manufactured by the press and the egos of the managers is too big not to walk into the trap.
Very good post, agree 100%
FFS Bradford beat us and got to the final last season even though our income from 1 match probably exceeds their full season's income 
