Arsenal's profit puts heat on Wenger

Arsene Wenger will face renewed calls to splash out on new signings after Arsenal announced a pre-tax profit of 17.8 million pounds ($26.8 million) in its half-yearly financial results on Monday.

Wenger has been criticized repeatedly in recent years for failing to spend big money on new players while Arsenal's results on the field continue to suffer.

The Premier League club's latest healthy financial report, to the end of November 2012, will only add to the pressure on the Gunners' boss to loosen the purse strings at the Emirates Stadium after eight years without a trophy and embarrassing exits from the FA and League Cups against lower league opposition this season.