Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: Manchester City will not crack top four

Arsene Wenger last night accused Manchester City of warping the world of football with their summer cash splurge.

The Arsenal boss has lost Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor to the Eastlands outfit, part of City’s stunning £70million spending spree, and so far laid out just £10m of his own to land Ajax stopper Thomas Vermaelen.

But while Wenger suggested City’s cash reserves will force their domestic rivals to break the bank just to keep their own stars under contract, the Gunners chief claimed Aston Villa represent a bigger threat to the establishment than Hughes’ men.

Wenger, speaking at the launch of Arsenal’s Charity of the Season partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: “In football it is important to always have the right balance.

“Manchester City at the moment look like they have a great squad quality-wise, but sometimes when you buy more than three players you take a technical gamble.

“Yes, sometimes it clicks straightaway but  sometimes it takes a few months and Real Madrid are in the same situation.

“They have bought fantastic players but you have to ask if they will click or not in a few months. Nobody knows. That’s not predictable.

“If you do not find your balance straight away it can be difficult. At some stage a club has to make history.

“Real Madrid were not 10th last year, they were second. They had good players and a good team. City have more to create than Real Madrid.

“For me I would say we are looking at a top six with Aston Villa - and you could have one surprise. There is always one unexpected team that fights but we can’t discard Aston Villa.

“Yes, last season they collapsed in the last 12 games, but at some stage looked like they could fight for championship.”

Wenger has previously accused Chelsea and other clubs of “financial doping”, living beyond their true means, and asked if the same charge could be laid at City’s door, he was emphatic.

“Of course that’s still my view,” added the Frenchman. “At Arsenal we live with our natural resources.

“When we make money it is because we have worked well and made good decisions. That’s not always the case for everybody.

“It’s a bit difficult to live in that environment because of the pressure. It’s not that you can’t be successful. I believe you can be successful despite the fact that other teams have more money.

“But what it does is put a lot of pressure on wages of the players at other clubs, and that is difficult to cope with.”

That pressure could intensify if Arsenal draw Atletico Madrid or Fiorentina in today’s draw for the Champions League qualifying stage, although Wenger claimed: “It is crucial, not crucial financially for the club but for the supporting side.

“We need to play with the best and that’s the Champions League group phase.

“We’re conscious we have tricky teams out there but on the other hand I don’t think anybody will want to play Arsenal.”

Is Wenger right about City - or just bitter that he doesn't have Mark Hughes' spending power? Comment below to let us know...