Posted on: 01:49 Sun, 08 May 2016



Arsene Wenger believes the money flooding into the Premier League from next season will bring an end to the traditional big four.

The Arsenal boss knows victory over
Manchester City on Sunday will seal a top-three finish and guaranteed Champions League football for his side for next year.

But the Gunners had greater aspirations having topped the table at the turn of the year, only to be usurped by the superb form of newly crowned champions Leicester.

And Wenger reckons the influx of television money into the league from the start of the new campaign means the surprise success of the Foxes could be repeated.

Arsenal are looking to secure a 20th
successive season in the Champions League
but the fight can only get tougher, according to
the Frenchman.

“The big question mark is what happened with
Leicester can happen again because first of all
every English team can buy players,” he said.

“The difference out on the market between
those who really make a difference and are just
a fraction better, where players go to lower
teams with a bit more spirit and a bit more
fighting, bit more support and a bit less
expectation.

“And maybe a team that nobody expects now will come next season and surprise everyone.

All the English clubs have the money to buy now.

“You’ve got West Ham moving into a new
stadium with more potential with the finances
that brings. Tottenham are creating a new
stadium as well.
“So in a few years the potential in England will
be much more shared than everywhere else
and you can get more surprises.”

Asked if the days of the traditional top-four are at an end, the 66-year-old replied: “Exactly.

This might be questioned in the future How many teams can win the title next season then?
“I don’t know. It’s difficult to say. Let’s go to the start of this season, predictions were: One Chelsea will win it again. Number two, Man City. OK.

“In the end any pundit who would have
predicted Leicester would have lost their job.

And that is what can happen again.

“Clubs down our league can buy the best
players in France, Spain and in Italy. So they
have the potential to build a big team.”
Arsenal’s capitulation from league favourites to
also rans has not only been down to the form
of the likes of Leicester and Spurs.

Their own form has been poor and Wenger
knows his own team need to improve ahead of
next season — if they are to keep up with the
likes of Sunday’s hosts City.

“We have to add something defensively as a
team to be more ruthless,” he conceded.
“Once you are two up at West Ham you finish
3-3 you question the team defensively. We
were not strong enough defensively. We gave
cheap goals away against Man United and were
punished for it.

“I don’t think we are soft but we need to
toughen up. In some games we were caught,
but a lot of the teams have the same problem.”