Despite having a reported £50 million available to him, the Gunners boss refuses to splash out on a big-money signing, preferring to bring in youngsters at bargain prices and develop them into superstars.
And why not? It's a policy that has worked for the Frenchmen for 13 years now.
Here are the top ten bargain buys done by Mr.Wenger:
10) Emmanuel Petit Signed for £2.5m, sold for £7m
One of Wenger's earliest signings at Highbury, Petit arrived from the Arsenal manager's former club Monaco for a mere £2.5m in the summer of 1997. Wenger switched him from centre-back to midfield and partnered him with Patrick Vieira. He immediately looked at home in his new role and it brought instant success as he helped the Gunners to a Premier League and FA Cup Double in his first season. In 2000 he was sold to Barcelona for £7m.
9) Emmanuel Adebayor Signed for £7m, sold for £25m
Wenger plundered his old club Monaco again to sign Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor for a fee reported variously as between £3m and £7m in 2006. He looked strong but pretty hopeless at finishing in his first season in London, but Wenger soon had him shooting straight and he became pivotal to the Arsenal attack, scoring 30 goals in his second season at the club. Before long, however, the vultures were circling and after the striker fell out with the Arsenal fans, Wenger flogged him to Manchester City for a hefty £25m.
8) Robin van Persie Signed for £2.75m
The Dutchman was signed for just £2.75m from Feyenoord in 2004 as Wenger looked to repeat his trick with Thierry Henry and turn the left-winger into a striker. After an injury-hit first few years at Highbury, van Persie has blossomed since Henry's departure, weighing in with more goals and more responsibility – he has even captained the team this season.
7) Marc Overmars Signed for £5.5m, sold for £25m
One of the few players to arrive at Arsenal with a big reputation already, the Dutchman had won the European Cup with Ajax in 1995, only for a serious knee injury to keep him out of Euro 96 and raise doubts about his future. Wenger wasn't put off though, and paid £5.5m for him in 1997. He proved his worth in his first season contributing vital goals as Arsenal won the Double, including the only goal in an away win at Manchester United, and the opener in the FA Cup Final against Newcastle. After three good years in London he was sold to Barcelona for £25m – five times what Wenger paid for him and the record fee for any Dutch player at the time.
6) Nicolas Anelka Signed for £500,000, sold for £22m
Snapped up for a piffling £500,000 from Paris Saint-Germain in 1997, he too played a crucial role in the 1998 Double and scored the second goal in Arsenal's FA Cup Final win over Newcastle. When his legendary grouchy mood descended, Wenger didn't hang around and offloaded him to Real Madrid who paid £22m for the privilege.
5) Kolo Toure Signed for £150,000, sold for £16m
Another unknown picked up for an unbelievable £150,000 from ASEC Mimosas in February 2002 and sold this summer to Manchester City for £16m. Not a bad profit – especially after seven loyal years of service to Arsenal during which he was one of their most consistent performers and helped them to the Premier League title and two FA Cup wins.
4) Patrick Vieira Signed for £3.5m, sold for £18m
Wenger's first signing and undoubtedly one of his best. Ignored at AC Milan where he made just two first-team appearances, Wenger insisted that Arsenal buy him before taking on the job. Just £3.5m was enough to sign the Frenchman who went on to become one of the defining players of the last decade. After winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cup Finals, the Gunners skipper eventually moved on to Juventus in 2005 – for a tidy profit, of course.
3) Sol Campbell Signed for free, left on a free
With the famed Arsenal defence of Tony Adams and Martin Keown nearing the end of its life, Wenger was forced to bring in reinforcements but he stunned the football world when he signed Sol Campbell from Tottenham in 2001 on a free transfer. After five years at the heart of the Gunners back-line, three FA Cup wins and two Premier League winners' medals, he left for "a new challenge". He is the only player on this list who didn't make a profit for the club, but then, he was signed for nothing.
2) Cesc Fabregas Signed for free
Another player picked up for nothing by Wenger who snaffled the young Spaniard from Barcelona in 2003 when he was just 16. Gradually blooded into the first team, Fabregas found himself with more and more opportunities as the likes of Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva left the club. By 2005 he was a first-team regular and last year he was made captain, aged just 21.
1) Thierry Henry Signed for £10m, sold for £16m
One of Wenger's biggest outlays at £10m, but he tops the list for his outstanding contribution to the Gunners cause over eight hugely successful years. The epitome of Wenger's football philosophy, the French striker was the darling of Highbury for his elegant style, electric pace and happy goalscoring knack. Took Ian Wright's record as Arsenal top scorer, won the FA Cup three times and the Premier League twice before leaving for Barcelona in 2007, for a £6m profit.
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