| FA Community Shield: Arsenal v Chelsea |
| Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: 2 August, 15:00 BST |
| Coverage: Live match commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, live text commentary on BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app. |
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his transfer spending will not be influenced by other clubs as he prepares for the Community Shield meeting with champions Chelsea.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho hinted on Monday that the Gunners’ spending in recent years outstripped Chelsea.
But Wenger said: “We spend when we think we have to spend and do not listen to what people think or say.
“When we don’t have the money, we don’t spend the money we haven’t got.”
Arsenal won the FA Cup for the second successive season in May and finished third in the Premier League – 12 points behind winners Chelsea.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech – signed from Chelsea – remains Arsenal’s only transfer signing so far this summer despite director Lord Harris saying last week that the club could sign “almost anyone”.
However Mourinho believes that Wenger’s side can challenge for the title this season on the back of their spending over the last two years.
“If you add up the amounts clubs have spent in the last three or four years, I think maybe you will find a surprise,” the Portuguese said.
“If you put Mesut Ozil plus Alexis Sanchez, plus Calum Chambers, plus Mathieu Debuchy, you will find a surprise.
“It’s a fantastic squad with good players, fantastic goalkeeper, they are more than ready to be title contenders.”
Source: goal.com
