Arsene Wenger believes West Ham landing the Olympic Stadium will save them years of financial difficulty.
Wenger knows just how lucky the Hammers, sixth in the table and chasing a surprise Champions League place, are to secure their new stadium at a cut-price cost.
He has talked regularly about how the club “suffered financially” and had to tighten the purse strings before they moved from Highbury to the £400m Emirates Stadium.
And ahead of his third-placed side’s final trip to Upton Park at lunchtime he said: “I say [to West Ham], ‘Well done! You have won in the lottery, and you do not need to sweat like I did for long years, and fight for every pound.’
“I could say that, for me, the first six years were very difficult financially. Going into April, thinking if you are not in the Champions League you are in trouble. That has been absolutely super-difficult.
Asked if the Hammers deal was fair, he said: “Asked if it was fair, Wenger smiled: “I leave you with that statement. Is it fair? Is it not fair? It is legal.
“Wenger said: “Of course, I think the stadium will change [West Ham’s chances of being top-of-the-table rivals for Arsenal].”