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Arsene Wenger: Arsenal can afford to buy Barcelona star Neymar
ARSENE WENGER has claimed Arsenal can now afford to buy superstars such as Neymar.
Barcelona superstar Neymar in training at the Emirates
Wenger's men go head to head with the Brazil ace tonight (7.45pm) when Arsenal host Barcelona in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.
And when discussing why Barcelona won their first of 12 trophies over seven years against Arsenal in the Champions League final in 2006 - during the same time the Gunners won no silverware - Wenger claimed to now be able to afford to spend big.
"We could not have bought Neymar," he said. "Maybe today we can. But at that time we couldn't."
Neymar is believed to cost Barcelona at least £67million, although the true fee is a subject of contention in Spain.
But Wenger continues to use financial disparity as the reason why Arsenal have not been as successful as Barcelona.
"Barcelona have spent much more money," the Frenchman added.
"In 2006 it was already the case and they already had stars on the way up. [Lionel] Messi was injured that night but you have seen the damage he has done since."
Neymar has scored 23 goals in 32 appearances for Barcelona this season.