Arsenal fans are livid after Ivan Gazidis downplays their transfer firepower…again

The transfer market is in full swing, but if you're an Arsenal fan hoping for more high-profile arrivals at The Emirates, don't get your hopes up too much.

Having tied up a £35m deal for Granit Xhaka before the Euros, Arsenal supporters have watched on as the likes of N'Golo Kante and Gonzalo Higuain have moved elsewhere the summer. And if the words of their chief executive are anything to go by, Gooners had better get used to watching other clubs splash the cash on players instead of them. Ivan Gazidis was speaking to the New York Times recently, and admitted that Arsenal simply can't compete with some of the fees being offered by rival clubs.

"We can't afford to outgun competitors that have far more money. We have to be very careful, very selective," the 51-year-old said.

It goes without saying that Arsenal's supporters weren't all that chuffed about Gazidis' comments. https://twitter.com/1burnm/status/758237627757854720 https://twitter.com/temmolai/status/758239782539493376 https://twitter.com/1886_blog/status/758239641732517888 https://twitter.com/lukelondon_/status/758239539538366464 https://twitter.com/andyjacksson/status/758239214215565312 https://twitter.com/ArsenalScandi/status/758239119877210112 And of course, such a debate wouldn't be complete without the input of Piers Morgan, would it? https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/758238994845011968 Gazidis' comments are a far cry from what he said three years ago. In 2013, he suggested a willingness to 'escalate' their spending.

"This year we are beginning to see something we have been planning for some time - the escalation in our financial firepower. "That is going to happen partly into next season, it is part way available now in the summer, but the following season as well."

All this said, it's still being reported that Arsene Wenger remains in the hunt for Lyon striker, Alexandre Lacazette. The French striker was the subject of a £29m bid from Arsenal earlier in the week - which was publicly rejected by the club - and reports on Wednesday suggest a second bid is imminent. Arsenal are also believed to be in the market for a centre half after it emerged that Per Mertesacker will be on the sidelines until as late as Christmas following an injury sustained in the preseason outing against Lens.