Arsenal And Arsene Wenger Need To Tell Fans The Truth About Failure To Spend Big Money - Frank McLintock

Gunners legend rues failure to land title that was 'there for the taking'

Arsenal legend Frank McLintock has called on the club to “be honest” with supporters about Arsene Wenger’s failure to spend big in the transfer market. 

The captain of the 1971 Double winners believes the Premier League title was “there for the taking” for Arsenal this season if they had beefed up their squad during the last two transfer windows.

Gunners season-ticket holder McLintock says there is confusion among fans about the transfer budget that Wenger has at his disposal.

In an astonishing exclusive interview with Goal.com UK,the former defender also claimed:

•    Wenger has put too much trust in his young Gunners and should have brought in more proven talent in the last two years

•    Arsenal need three new players in the spine of their team to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League next season

•    Only Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie among the current squad would get in the 2003-04 ‘Invincibles’ team or Wenger’s 1998 and 2002 Double winners

•    Three or four of Arsenal’s side are not good enough and would get “nowhere near” Manchester United's or Chelsea’s teams

•    Wenger is the best manager Arsenal have ever had and the club must sign him up for “another five or six years”

Youth champion | Or is he forced to rely on kids?

McLintock says supporters are entitled to more information from the club about the exact state of the finances, which are reported to be healthier than Wenger’s cautious transfer activity would suggest.

“It would be nice to get a bit of honesty from the board and the manager,” he said. “We are intelligent people. Give us a break. 

“I share a box with some other people at Emirates Stadium and pay a lot of money to get into Arsenal for every home game. I’m still a big Arsenal fan and am bitterly disappointed when they get beaten.

“People are getting frustrated. It’s hard to judge whether he doesn’t want to spend the money because he rates the young players so highly or there is no money to spend.”

Wenger was criticised in January for not strengthening his squad for the second half of the season, particularly because of Van Persie’s long-term ankle injury.

McLintock observed: “I’m positive that last year he was really strapped for money. I heard that from a good source at the club. But in January he had money. 

“He is so convincing when he talks about his young players but I don’t know if he really feels that and genuinely doesn’t want any money or he is covering up and putting on a front for the club.

“I’m not into all this ‘youth’ all the time and saying next year will be better. If they are not ready, why not buy them next year?

“I’ve been consistently saying in the last two years that they need strengthening down the spine of the team.

“They could have been improved with spending around £30 million. He could have got Shay Given and Richard Dunne for £12m and a centre-forward for £15m. For a club like Arsenal, that is not an astronomical amount of money.”

Given up | Arsenal could have bought Irish keeper

McLintock was at pains to point out that he is a big supporter of the Arsenal manager.

“Wenger is the greatest manager we’ve ever had and it is right to trust him. The board should sign him up for another five or six years if they can but we haven’t won anything for five seasons,” he said.

“Sometimes you feel as if you are almost criticising the Pope when you make comments about the club.

“The disappointing thing is that the championship was there for the taking for Arsenal this season. 

“They only needed to have bought two or three players for the last two years but they have not got them for whatever reason.”

McLintock believes the current squad is a pale shadow of Wenger’s great Arsenal teams.

“How many of the current squad would walk in to the ‘Invincibles’ or the 1998 or 2002 Double-winning teams?

“Van Persie and Fabregas would be the only certainties although there would be three others knocking on the door – [Thomas] Vermaelen, [Andrey] Arshavin and [William] Gallas.

Calibre | McLintock wants more signings like Arshavin

“There are three or four players who are not good enough for a top side and would get nowhere near Man United or Chelsea’s teams.

“When you get players injured and look at the bench, there are only youngsters to come in. When you look at United and Chelsea, they have players like Scholes and Joe Cole.

“Wenger just needs more signings in the mould of Arshavin and Vermaelen, who can improve the team immediately.”