Chief backs boss spending

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis says Arsene Wenger is not afraid to spend money but will only go big on the right player.

Wenger has often been criticised for his reluctance to spend large amounts on players, while Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have all splashed the cash. The Frenchman cannot match his rivals when it comes to transfer budgets but he has been accused of being too cautious when it comes to spending, something which has been denied by Gazidis. "I don't think Arsene is conservative, I think he is extraordinarily brave. I think he does things others don't do and sees things others don't see," Gazidis told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Arsene is not fixed on the price of a player in assessing a player's value, he will look with equal weight at a young player who is coming through the Arsenal academy and a player that might be available with a very hefty price tag from overseas. "He is not afraid to spend money when he believes in a player and sees a player he thinks can kick us forward but he is not obsessed with the security that a big transfer fee might give him."