Goal.com Interview: Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood discusses unfair press aimed at Wenger, summer spending, Fabregas and more

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By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

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In the first interview with an Arsenal official since Cesc Fabregas told Arsene Wenger that he wants to leave the club, chairman Peter Hill-Wood gives the inside view on the latest goings-on at Emirates Stadium.

Do you expect Cesc Fabregas to stay at Arsenal?
I don’t know [if he will stay]. I’ve really got little to say. We haven’t had any official approach from them (Barcelona). We have made it perfectly clear we don’t want to lose him. The message has been given to them we don’t want to lose him and will do our damnedest to keep him.

What do you make of Barcelona’s tactics of courting the player through the Spanish media?
It’s a funny way of doing business.

Can Arsenal thrive without Fabregas?
Yes, I think so. We have done pretty well without one or two other star players. I would like Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Tony Adams back but they are 10 years too old. Anyway, [Cesc] hasn’t left yet, remember. We very much hope he stays with us and we’re confident he will.

How much money would Arsenal want for Fabregas if he were to be sold? Is £50million a realistic fee?
We haven’t even discussed it. It’s not an issue.

How do you think Arsenal performed this season?
Finishing third in the Premier League and reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League wasn’t a bad result. For some weird reason, we had a bad run of serious injuries. It wasn’t the groin strains and hamstrings but we had some very important players out for a long time. Although we have a big squad, to have somebody as good as Robin van Persie not playing [means it] is not possible to be at your best. Although I think we had a very good season I’m confident that we can get better next year.

Were you disappointed that you did not win a trophy for a fifth consecutive year?
There is only one winner of the Champions League and only one winner of the Premier League. We are competing with teams who have lots more money than we have, like Manchester City and Chelsea.

Given that Highbury Square has now gone into profit and the revenues generated by Emirates Stadium continue to grow, is the club not in its best financial state for some time?
I think we are in very good financial shape. You must remember that buying players is one thing. If you make a profit on the property and you spend it, that profit is gone. Whatever the property side delivers for us, we will continue to invest in the squad but not spend beyond our means.

Building on their vision | Hill-Wood and Wenger

Independent analysis of Arsenal’s accounts show Arsene Wenger will have up to £45m to spend this summer, regardless of what happens with Fabregas. Do you expect major signings?
I hope so. Certainly Arsene has got his eyes and ears open. What he is not prepared to do is spend the money on players who will not fit in at Arsenal and improve when they are there. It is very easy to buy players who everyone has heard of. Anyway, it’s not true to say we do not spend money. Thomas Vermaelen was not cheap and neither was Andrey Arshavin. It was the same with [Samir] Nasri. I think the boy [Marouane] Chamakh is a good player.

When will Chamakh sign?
It is pretty much done. It will be a surprise if it doesn’t happen.

Do you expect William Gallas and Sol Campbell to be at Arsenal next season?
I hope so. They have both been offered one-year contracts so it is up to them. We would like to keep them.

What is the latest situation with Arsene Wenger’s contract talks?
What he does not like doing is talking about this during the season. We won’t see him for a month because he will be at the World Cup. But I think he will sign, hopefully before the beginning of the season.

How long for?
It would be presumptious to say how long. We will wait and see. We have only just started talking.

How keen are the board to keep Wenger?
Do you know anyone who is better? There isn’t anyone, and if there is, I don’t know of him. He’s the best manager in the world and has done a remarkable job for us. You guys in the press are a little harsh saying we haven’t won anything for five years. What you are talking about is the Premier League and the Champions League. We could win the Carling Cup and the FA Cup if we made a huge effort. Arsene has advised us that he needs to rest players for those competitions. We are trying to win the Premier League and the Champions League. There is only one winner for both of those tournaments.

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