Arsenal legend Tony Adams has claimed manager Arsene Wenger does not have the backing of the whole of the Gunners' board.
Adams, who spent his entire playing career at Highbury, believes the club are not providing sufficient financial backing for Wenger.
"People on the board - and the fans - want more," he said at a Nationwide event.
"But they can't actually back it up with financial weight to do it. They're not financing him. I don't think Arsenal have got any finance," he added.
"I don't know who it is, but I think there's someone on the board who's not pro-Arsene. I don't know who it is, but that's what I've heard."
Wenger faced something of a backlash from fans this season over their failure to challenge for the Barclays Premier League title.
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis also voiced his disappointment but Adams believes it would be "unrealistic" to expect an improvement next season.
Adams continued: "The fans have got very high standards now. I remember when I first broke into the team, losing 4-0 at Maine Road and the fans were doing the conga. They didn't expect much.
"But they expect a lot now. They're crying out for experience and the fans are not silly, they know the team needs experience at the back and in central midfield.
"Arsene knows, too. He's not a silly man. But you tell me a player they can get for the money they've got. It's unrealistic."






Comment 12 - 31 of 31
I hope that Tony Adams has been misquoted - if not it's a shame that someone of his standing has to resort to "what I've heard" Arsenal's financial troubles all arise from the cost of rebuilding and Arsene Wenger's is obviously prepared to work within those parameters otherwise he wouldn't still be the manager. Do none of you have to "operate" within a budget - if not you are very lucky. Okay it's generally accepted that we need strengthening from the back but leave it to the Manager to sort it out. Our team is exceptionally young and gaining experience all the time and we have two potentially great defenders coming through in Hoyte and Gibbs plus a host of others.
Please stop the endless clamour because ultimately we could loose our Manager and who are you going to replace him with ?
Gooner for sanity
Danny Fizman is the problem he got shot of Dein & Nina Bracewell-Smith all money grabbers that they are but AW backers they are and people that backed new investment cant people see that Mr Fizman is out for his own goal to make as much money out of arsenal as he always has lets face it they have aggredd not to sell there shares till an agread date pretty suspect that that happens to be when the old highbury appartments are complete but it was extended till next year when the recession is expected to be over but good old money grabber Danny has split that of to another holding company that if Arsenal was to be bought over him and the other tight @#$%'s in the board would reap the profits of both its a shame we cant get a billionaire in that would buy the ground out right cos im sure if that was out of the way there would be plenty of money coming in to pay them back and provide enough money for transfers it makes me sad that thi is happening to the club over fizman & Deins ego's but thats be real Dein done a lot more for the club and for football in a whole than what Fizman ever done all he done was cash his cheques and bleed the club dry and is still doing it he trys to say he was the 1 that moved the club but it was Dein that set the wheels in motion shame on you Fizman
oh for the hallowed days of Adams, Keown Winterburn and co. I am sure they used to get suspended on purpose to let their mates have a few games and thereby natural rotation and keep themselves fresh.
A thought. If clubs had to have a maximum wages and purchases of 50% turnover, clubs would have to invest on youth structure. It wouldnt matter how many billions of russian zlodniks the owner had. Would also stop Fish Batter and Wadda Pratini squarking on about nationl content of teams.
Timity - Ur putting that tube silvestre in front of toure. You need a good kicking son. Toure was our best defender by a country mile last season. i think we got silvestre's @#$% older brother by mistake. He was a sleeper 4 united and nothing more.
Too many people worrying over nothing for next season up front or in midfield. We have RVP and Edaurdo up front with Ade, Bentner, Vela as reserves. Midfield a choice from Fab, Theo, Rosicky, Nasri, Arshavin, Diaby, Song.
Now comes the crunch. The defence. When fit you have Clichy, Gallas, Silvestre, and Sagna. The reserves for the defence are the lightweight that needs bolstering. Djourou, Gibbs and Toure did well but are they enough ?
mr wenger what is wrong with obefami martins, hunteelar, and many other players? oh yeah thats right there over the magic age of 18. according to mr wenger you cant be a top premiership player past your 20th birthday! im a gooner through and through but enough is enough. pleeeeeeease by some experinced players or we will end up a mid team table. look at everton, and villa they are closeing the gap on us while we drift away from the top 2!!!
Post No 20 - If AW was doing his Job, He would be looking for experience in depth so that the injuries that plagued us last season do not occur again, and we wouldn't have gone 4 years without winning anything!
I support Arsene in what he is trying to achieve long term, but as its US the fans who put bums on seats and buy the merchendise, I don't think its wrong to suggest shortcomings in the immediate future - i.e 2009/10 season
We need some experience to help nurture the young talented players on the pitch during matches! Remember what we were like prior to Overmars and Berkamp Joining - Just outside the top echelons, when they arrived, they boosted the desire and belief in the squad and gave us a cutting edge. I believe we are in a similar situation now and we need a couple of superstar playmakers to give us that cutting edge again so we can challenge for every piece of silverware!
adams you had pompey with you what did you do????? only taking them to the danger zone of relegation, so spare as your s**$.you are not yet ripe to handle arsenal WENGER is the MAN
MACS FROM KENYA
WOW... adam is a coming traitor. this is speculation is one of his strategies to become the new arsenal manager asap. sorry adam, you r never ever enough to become arsenal manager.
we dont really need to blow out the cash like any of the other big 4, and Man City.... always do, and of course theres squabbles in the board...theres some in every club
we shouldnt be panicking over anything, last season we were only 4 points behind, and this season everytime we had a run going we were ravaged by injuries....but we do definately need some driving power or force in Cb position alongside either Gallas or Toure, i think we have sufficient DM's in Song and Diaby, they've proved they can compete at the highest level, just need to be consistent
Let AW do its his way for he IS our most successful manager ever and in Arsene i trust
GUNNA 4 LIFE
Well what I think is that Tomy Adams is right here but what Arsenal need is one or two skilled players. Arshavin joined Arsenal and that is really good news also Rosicky and Eduardo are coming back next season and I hope they will be in good form. What we need is time and luck. Young players are getting better every day and Arsenal is full of them so its just a matter of time when we will hit 1st place again. In Wenger I trust.
oh shut up my friend and let the guy just do his job
No board member is 100% in favour of a manager all the time. So, yes Tony maybe correct. Will Arsenal finish higher in league next year? Only if they buy some quality players. I personally would like the to go after Carvalho. He would certainly strengthen what I consider one of Arsenals weakest defences in years. Please, no more French players or kids. We need maturity on this team and strong leadership on the field.
Tony? What have you achieved as a manager??Why do you say things about people but you don,t have proof.Did the Arsenal Board back Arsen Wenger over Rosicky.Nasri & Asharvin.Answer YES YES & YES.So please Tony take the job in Scotland.....oops i forgot......that.s a rumour is it not/
the board should put money up for players if the right player becomes available and fit in with arsenal style of play however if we went out and spent 60 million on players does not automaticaly mean things would be any better so stop moaning and let wenger do things his way
i think there is a problem with the board!!! come back mr dean maybe adams is right!!
i think this man no something what happen in arsenal.i am dissapointed with arsenal peformence last few season.when arsenal lose any game i will give the same reason that is..."they are just kids....."always the same.why they do not add some adult in a team.quality adult player.not only from france but other place.just know sign 22 year old midfield from france cost 5 million.is there any other country can arsene wender find player??????????or only france can play football in europe.
i think this man no something what happen in arsenal.i am dissapointed with arsenal peformence last few season.when arsenal lose any game i will give the same reason that is..."they are just kids....."always the same.why they do not add some adult in a team.quality adult player.not only from france but other place.just know sign 22 year old midfield from france cost 5 million.is there any other country can arsene wender find player??????????or only france can play football in europe.
I don't agree with Tony Adams saying that the Arsenal board don't have faith with Wenger.
Wenger has had backing from Peter Hill-Wood and I don't know what Adams is talking about.
We didn't win anything this season, but I am sure Arsenal will show how strong we are when we challenge for the title.
Wenger isn't the one playing, it is the eleven men on the pitch.
Also, Chelsea hands off Adebayor.
I don't agree with Tony Adams saying that the Arsenal board don't have faith Wenger.
Wenger has had backing from Peter Hill-Wood and I don't know what Adams is talking about.
We didn't win anything this season, but I am sure Arsenal will show how strong we are when we challenge for the title.
Wenger isn't the one playing, it is the eleven men on the pitch.
Also, Chelsea hands off Adebayor.
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