Arsenal Manager Arsène Wenger "predicted a tighter title race this season after claiming that Financial Fair Play was having an effect on the big clubs," according to Gary Jacob of the LONDON TIMES. Wenger claimed that Arsenal is now "on a sound financial footing that will allow him to be bolder in the transfer market." He will benefit from improved sponsorship deals, which will increase Arsenal's income by £30M ($50M) from a year ago, "although he has been under pressure from fans to spend the cash mountain" of more than £120M ($202M) that Arsenal has had for several years. Wenger said, "I would say that the balance of power is a bit more even than it was five or six years ago. That’s because of Financial Fair Play, added to us having more financial power than five years ago. That gives us a better chance" (LONDON TIMES, 8/2). In London, Jacob wrote in a separate piece Wenger said Frank Lampard's move to Man City on loan could be a way for the club "to sidestep" UEFA's FFP rules. Wenger questioned whether City "could be using other clubs in their network to share players and suggested some could perceive that as a way to limit wage costs or benefit from having home-grown players" (LONDON TIMES, 8/4).
