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Olivier Giroud believes Mikel Arteta has enough time to see Arsenal challenge for the top-four this season, but told talkSPORT that transfers may also see his former side struggle. The

Gunners entered the international break 11th in the standings after a goalless draw at Brighton & Hove Albion. The north Londoners had moved into the top-half before travelling to the

south coast with victory over rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Arteta’s side could slip down to 15th before they host Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace next Monday. They may also face a seven-point

deficit to the top-four positions, depending on results over Saturday and Sunday. Giroud does not believe Arsenal’s current gap to the top-four is insurmountable for Arteta. But the

Frenchman says the Gunners’ rivals’ spending powers could see them edge away. Even though Arsenal were the Premier League’s top-spenders this summer at £157m. “I think Mikel Arteta has got

time to come back in the top-four,” Giroud said. “But sometimes the problem, you know, is money plays a huge part in the success also. “When you see Chelsea after winning the Champions

League, they spent over £80m on Romelu [Lukaku] to reinforce the forward line and after spending a lot of millions also the year before. “I think money plays a huge part, but that’s the

thing with Arsenal, maybe they don’t put as much as their opponents.” CAN ARSENAL QUALIFY TOP-FOUR UNDER ARTETA THIS SEASON, LIKE GIROUD SUGGESTS? Arsenal will hope their summer transfer

investment was enough to move back up the Premier League table. Last season saw the north Londoners fail to qualify for any European competition for the first time in 25-years. They

responded by agreeing a £20m deal for Takehiro Tomiyasu, £30m on Aaron Ramsdale, £34m for Martin Odegaard, £50m on White, £15m for Albert Sambi Lokonga and £8m on Nuno Tavares, per Sky

Sports. MORE ARSENAL STORIES Even Chelsea’s £97.5m move for Lukaku failed to see Thomas Tuchel outspend Arteta. While Manchester United ranked second for total (£134m) and net (£104m) spend

to Arsenal after splashing £73m on Jadon Sancho. So, while Giroud seemingly suggests Arsenal need more big-name transfers, Arteta spent big on quantity and, they hope, quality.