Qwiss
I did the analysis last summer on A-M - and sense checked it with OpenAI just now
Wenger (2013–2018): Gross spend: £352.8m
Adjusted for CIES transfer inflation (8–13% compounded to 2022): ≈ £750–800m
https://football-observatory.com/Inflation-in-the-football-players-transfer-market
Arteta (2020–2024): Gross spend: ≈ £700m
Inflation 2020–2022/23 was still positive, but lower than in the 2010s (CIES estimate 3–6% per year).
Adjusted to 2022 values: ≈ £740–760m
When both are inflation-adjusted, Wenger and Arteta’s total outlays are almost identical in real terms — Wenger’s slightly higher if you use the upper CIES estimate, Arteta’s slightly higher on the lower end.
So the key takeaway is: In “today’s market money,” Wenger spent roughly the same as Arteta has.
The difference is perception: Wenger’s spend looked cautious at the time because nominal fees were lower, while Arteta’s looks extravagant in the current inflated market.
@flobaba Trust me brevs
