Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he spends the club's money in the transfer market as if it were his own in order to avoid making mistakes when buying players.Per the Mirror's John Cross, Wenger wrote in manager Alan Curbishley's new bookGame Changers: Inside English Football:I personally believe the only way to be a manager is to spend the clubs money as if it were your own, because if you dont do that youre susceptible to too many mistakes.You make big decisions and I believe you have to act like its your own moneylike youre the owner of the club and you can identify completely with the club, because if you dont do that I think you cannot go far.While the Frenchman's caution is understandable to an extent, he has perhaps taken it too far in recent years.While the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Granit Xhaka have all been brought in, Arsenal's work in the transfer market paints a stark contrast to Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelseaall of whomhave won more trophies than the Gunners in the last decade, including multiple league titles each.Arsenal have laboured each year while their rivals have made significant strides to improve. Even the Red Devils, who have been poor in the three years following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, look to have rectified their situation with four marquee signings this summer.Wenger's failure to sign the players Arsenal need has drawn significant ire from supporters, per the Telegraph's Sam Wallace (contains NSFW language):The Frenchman has spoken of the struggles Arsenal have faced in the transfer market, per SFR Sport (h/t Get French Football News):Twitter account Arsenal Report gave their own insight into Wenger's attempts to sign players:His comments are likely to be particularly grating with supporters this year, who have seen all of their rivals sign players who could have improved the Gunners' squad.Meanwhile, with more money available to those of smaller stature in the Premier League than ever before, even mid-table clubs are proving more activeand in some cases, effective.It would not be a surprise if Arsenal did not bring in another centre-back this summer, while the likes of Everton were able to replace the departed John Stones with Ashley Williamsa defender who would have made an outstanding partner for Laurent Koscielny.Indeed, here's a summary of Arsenal's window thus far:With Wenger now entering the final year of his contract with Arsenal, he's at serious risk of being remembered for holding the club back as much as he is for their success during his tenure.The 66-year-old is not eagerly anticipating his retirement. Per Sky Sports'Rory O'Callaghan, he added in the book: "It's been my life and, quite honestly, I'm scared of the day. Because the longer I wait, the more difficult it will be to lose the addiction."Further, he does not believe he will enjoy being retired as much as Ferguson:After Alex retired and we played them over there, he sent a message to me to come up and have a drink with him.I asked 'Do you miss it'' He said, 'Not at all'. I didn't understand that. It's an emptiness in your life, especially when you've lived your whole life waiting for the next game and trying to win it.Our pleasure comes from thatand our social attitude as well.Ferguson was 71 when he retired, so even if Wenger does leave Arsenal at the end of the season, he is still several years away from being the same agehe may well go elsewhere.To justify staying at Arsenal, at the very least the club must mount and sustain a serious title challenge.Before they can do that, Wenger must show in the transfer market that he and the club have the ambition to do so as the squad in its current state looks far from capable of that.This summer could be the most defining transfer window of Wenger's Arsenal career, and time is running out.
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