Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, still purring after that immaculate last-minute capture of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid, said he was not averse to spending more money on world-class players, but will not pay big cash just for the sake of it.
Ozil was the biggest name to make his move to the English Premier League on transfer deadline day in the summer, with Arsenal paying Real Madrid a club record £42.5 million.
That signing has worked like a charm for Wenger, with Ozil giving Arsenal the lift that was needed to push them up a level or two, after stagnating over the last few years.
"It's a big responsibility to spend that amount of money," Wenger told the club's official website. "But I feel comfortable with it because we had the money to do it. Before we couldn't have done it because we didn't have the money available.
"It's as simple as that. I had a huge sense of responsibility when we built the stadium to get the club through it without going bankrupt. The first years were difficult, and also explained why we lost some players.
"Now we are in a more comfortable financial position, I -- more than anyone -- want the great players to play for Arsenal Football Club. If we have to spend the money to do that, I will spend the money."
Wenger, though, is not the kind of manager who just throws his money around to build a team; the Frenchman loves to manufacture a side from within, with the youngsters from the Academy a major factor in his plans.
"The policy is exactly the same -- I always want to bring the best players in here, world-class players, at the best possible price," the Frenchman said. "And I want to continue to educate 60 to 80 percent of the squad ourselves.
"The culture of the club, the way we want to play football and the way we want to behave, comes from within. The Wilsheres, the Ramseys, the Gibbs -- these kind of players have to be the culture of the club. Then on top of that we want to bring world-class players who will help us to be even stronger."
Bringing in a world-class player, according to Wenger, should only be to add to the squad and more importantly make footballing sense.
"If they are needed, then yes (we will buy a few more)," he added. "If it's just for marketing reasons, then no. But for football reasons, why not."
Wenger revealed there was competition from other clubs for Ozil's signature, but the Arsenal manager was reasonably confident he could bring in a big name towards the end of the transfer window, after enduring a frustrating spell in the opening couple of months.
"At the end of the day, I'm not the only one who dictates the timings of the transfer market," Wenger said. "I always said that, even to people inside the club who I worked with, I told them that this is a very stressful period but we have to be patient because things can happen right at the end.
"I said that many times. The transfer of Ozil was linked with a huge desire of everyone at the club to get it done, but at the same time it could have failed because we faced huge competition in the end from other clubs, so you have to accept that. The pressure for us on the transfer front was huge.
"People knew we had money to spend, and honestly, it wasn't easy. I said many times I was ready to spend if it was for the right player, and if you look at our form over the past year, it would take a special talent to strengthen the team."
The next step in the transfer market is January, with Arsenal constantly linked with a big-name striker in the winter window. Wenger, though, is his usual closed self when it comes to revealing his plans.
"I don't rule it out (buying a player in January). I don't rule it out at all, but saying that I don't want to encourage more speculation," he added. "We have just come out of a transfer market that has been very agitated, so let's not go into the next one today! I just want to focus on football now."
Focus on football Arsenal have done, as they stay perched up at the top of the English Premier League table after seven games. There is a long, long way to go though; but if Ozil and co. can continue this run for a sustained period, then this season might just finally be the year when the now-infamous trophy drought comes to an end.
