Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger thinks Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have an edge over the rest of the European clubs owing to their financial strength, which has seen the two clubs bring in talented players from all around Europe by handing them lucrative offers.

Arsene Wenger feels Real Madrid and Barcelona are ‘above the rest in Europe’

Just before his side’s match against Dortmund, which was the UEFA Champions League Group Stage opener, Wenger said, “I believe that this season, I see two teams that are above the rest – Real Madrid and Barcelona – and the rest have to catch up during the season.

“So for us, it’s a new start because we are a new squad. What is at stake during the group stage for us is to show that we can go through.

“We are in our 14th season in the Champions League group phase and what has changed is that the competition inside England has become bigger among the top teams.

“It is as difficult to win the Champions League because a team that wins the Premier League is in the Champions League final almost every year.”

To add to the list, Wenger said that London club Chelsea and Manchester City are going on the same lines. With so many teams spending heavily, the Frenchman feels that very soon the football world will witness a financial crisis.

The Gunners’ boss added, “Outside the country, Barca and Real Madrid have much more financial power than they had 14 years ago because they have individualised their TV rights. So they, at the moment, with teams like Man City and Chelsea, can take who they want.

“We have seen the first signs of some resistance in Spain, where everybody complains,” said the Frenchman.

“I believe that Europe overall, as a unit, is going towards a massive crisis, which nobody really expects now. I am convinced that Europe will go into a huge financial crisis within the next three weeks or three months and maybe that will put everything into perspective again.

“Football is not untouchable. We live with people going to the stadiums as well and from advertising from people who buy products. All our income could be a little bit under threat in the next few months. Football is not only about money. We believe in ourselves that we can compete with them but it’s as simple as this.”

Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Barcelona, Europe, Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League