Stan Kroenke will give Arsenal ‘as much money as we want’ to build on best finish of his tenure, says Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger is convinced that majority shareholder Stan Kroenke will ensure he has the financial muscle required in the summer transfer window as he looks to build a championship-winning squad next season.

Kroenke is a rare presence at the Emirates but made the visit to London on Sunday, where he watched his side secure a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa that, coupled with Tottenham’s 5-1 loss at Newcastle, secured second place for Arsenal, their best finish in the American’s time as a stakeholder.

As the wait for a Premier League title drags on into its 13th year Wenger is expected to spend much more significantly than he did last summer, when Petr Cech was his only signing.

Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka could be the first to arrive in a £33.8million deal, whilst Wenger has also confirmed that he will look to sign a striker after Danny Welbeck was ruled out for nine months following surgery to repair cartilage damage to his right knee.

And Wenger believes that, within reason, he will be able to spend whatever is required to push Arsenal on from second to first.

He told BBC Sport: “Stan Kroenke is completely behind myself and the board investing as much money as we want. It has to be in respect of a balanced budget, we have resources but the problem is finding players. Everybody has money in England and they’re all after good players.

“The good players aren’t legion, you have to be shrewd and be a little bit lucky.”

Next season sees Wenger enter the last year of his contract and he has yet to give any indication as to whether he will look to extend his time at the club.

Though any doubt over his long-term future at the club could have an adverse impact on negotiations with potential signings Wenger remains adamant that it will be some time yet before he decides whether to put pen to paper.

“I believe that no matter how long my contract is I will give my maximum until its last day,” he said. “We have to see where we stand in a year’s time, we’ll decide at the end of next season.”