Alan Sugar talks up Arsenal's Premier League chances and slams Tottenham's transfer policy

Former chairman has risked the wrath of the club's supporters

Alan Sugar, telly mogul Sir Alan Lord Sugar is as good an example as any of a local boy made good. He left school at 16 and then started selling electrical goods out of the back of his van. Considering he now goes on television (Getty Images)

Former Tottenham chairman has risked the wrath of Spurs supporters by playing up Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League next season and criticising the players bought after the world record sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid.

Sugar, who was in charge at White Hart Lane from 1991 to 2001, said he believes Arsenal are “dark horses” after Arsene Wenger pulled off a coup in bringing Alexis Sanchez to the club from Barcelona and panned Andre Villas-Boas’ transfer policy that saw almost £100m spent on seven players – most of whom struggled desperately in their first season in north London.

“It hurts me to say this but I think Arsenal could be the dark horse here,” told Sky Sports News.

“He (Wenger) lost (Theo) Walcott to serious injury, he lost (Aaron) Ramsey and he still managed to end up in the position he did.

“With a fit squad and the addition of the new chap that he’s brought in (Sanchez) I think they are the dark horse.”

Sugar told the Daily Mirror he felt sorry for Daniel Levy after seeing Villas-Boas spend money on players who flopped.

“I sat back and watched that happen and it can’t be right,” he said.

“It’s right that you promise the manager the proceeds of the Bale sale and say he would be given all to spend on players. That’s great.

“But I would guess if you had made that promise to Arsene Wenger then you would have gone, ‘Thank you, Mr Chairman. That’s good. Stick it in the bank and I will use it when I find somebody who I think is worthy to buy.’

“But they went out like a kid in the sweet shop. He (Villas-Boas) bought anything in sight and went and spent the money straight away.”

Villas-Boas was dismissed in December with Spurs lying seventh in the Premier League table.