Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be handed a lucrative £70million summer transfer kitty to reinforce his ranks.

The Gunners have been badly hit by injuries this season and the problems have threatened to hamper their Premier League title tilt.

League leaders Arsenal secured a last-gasp 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa on Saturday to maintain a narrow one-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the table.

But the Gunners' second string side have also suffered humbling cup defeats to Tottenham and United in the current campaign and Wenger is expected to be offered the opportunity to bring in back-up at the end of the season.

Opportunity

"We have £69millilon in cash, so we have money available," Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman told the News of the World.

"Arsene has got sufficient funds for any signing he wishes to make."

Edelman, though, does not expect Wenger to abandon his policy of investing in the opportunity to develop potential talent.

Last weekend Eduardo da Silva became the latest injury loss for Wenger as the Croatian striker was ruled out for nine months after suffering a broken leg and dislocated ankle following a challenge from Birmingham defender Martin Taylor

Star names

But Edelman does not feel Wenger will seek to bring in star names as replacements and that the Emirates Stadium boss will continue to look to the long-term.

"We do spend quite a lot of money but not in quite the same way as other clubs do," Edelman added.

"Last year, we bought Bakari Sagna and Eduardo. So we do make acquisitions but we don't tend to make the big-splash ones."