Former Arsenal forward John Hartson backs Arsene Wenger's transfer policy

Former Arsenal forward John Hartson believes that Arsene Wenger has done the right thing in not investing in a forward to replace Danny Welbeck, who has been ruled out for months following a knee operation. Arsenal fans are up in arms over his decision to not splash out the cash, but Hartson believes that a transfer strategy such as Liverpool's is a waste of money.

The Gunners were heavily linked with a move for Karim Benzema from Real Madrid but the transfer fell through following the Frenchman's desire to stay at the club and the Spanish giants' unwillingness to part with their star striker this summer. Wenger refused to do any more business in reply to the snub and were the only team in Europe's top five leagues to have not signed an outfield player.

The former north London man cites the example of Liverpool, who signed Danny Ings from Burnley in the summer, but the player has not made a single appearance in a Liverpool shirt thus far. Hartson insists that he agrees with the strategy of Wenger where he wants to spend the money only when he finds a better alternative to what is already there in the squad.

"Why would he just add numbers to give himself a problem and put players on the bench and pay them astronomical wages?" Hartson claimed on talkSPORT.

"I totally understand why Wenger has not bought. The Danny Welbeck situation is unfortunate now he has to go in for a knee operation. You look at Liverpool, and how much did they need Danny Ings? They signed him for a free, but what's the point, Danny Ings has hardly kicked a ball for Liverpool.

"That's not the way Wenger works. He protects the club's money, he doesn't just go out and buy bang-average players. If you're going to get into his team, you've got to improve it and you've got to be better than what he's got.

"We've all criticised Arsenal and would like to see them be a bit more active in the transfer market – he hasn't been. He's won two FA Cups on the bounce and they keep finishing in the top four. They're not as strong as Man City or Chelsea, but Arsene Wenger keeps producing and keeps building teams.

"He's not going to buy players just to add the group. You've got to bring in players that are going to enhance the team."