The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) say they have been informed that Arsene Wenger will be given “considerable resources” in January as the Gunners seek to salvage their season.
Arsenal qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League with considerable ease, but their quest to end a seven-year trophy drought came crashing down at Valley Parade as League Two Bradford City eliminated them with a dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout win in the Capital One Cup.
The AST met with chief executive Ivan Gazidis on Wednesday to discuss the club’s perceived lack of direction, but they were assured that the Frenchman will be given the financial backing required to compete, with the club eyeing moves for several players including Pepe Reina and Wilfried Zaha.
“There is plenty of money there,” Trust spokesman Tim Payton told BBC Sport.
“That was the message that Ivan and his finance director were giving this evening.
“He stayed for over two hours. He apologised for the result [at Bradford] and said it was not good enough and had to be better.
“The Arsenal fans were dissatisfied with the strength of the squad and particularly don’t understand whether there were resources to be used.
“I specifically raised this with the finance director and his colleague and they were in no doubt there is considerable resources available to the manager ready to spend when he has identified the players he wants to sign.
“It’s crystal clear that Arsenal fans need to wait until January for Arsene Wenger to use the cheque book he has been given well.”
Wenger’s position has come under increasing scrutiny in light on recent results, but the Trust still has complete faith in the club’s most successful ever manager.
“Lots of people have asked me whether Arsene Wenger should go,” said Payton.
“He certainly needs to change and improve, spend the money he’s got, strengthen the set-up around him and the results will be the judge.”