Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal will keep on playing fair as UEFA president Michel Platini looks to ease FFP restrictions this summer

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Arsene Wenger admitted UEFA’s grand Financial Fair Play revolution is over before it really began — but promised Arsenal’s strategy will remain the same.

Wenger has been a fierce advocate of strict rules forcing clubs to operate within their means but accepts it has proved unworkable. UEFA president Michel Platini is set to ease restrictions this summer.

‘I saw it coming,’ said the Arsenal boss ahead of Wednesday night's clash with Sunderland. ‘I got the noises: resistance in France, many countries, Italy for example, where people want to sell their clubs. Milan is for sale, Roma is for sale and people who invest their own money want to make sure they can do what they want.

Wenger insists that Financial Fair Play rules do not affect Arsenal as the club only spend what they have

Michel Platini is set to relax Financial Fair Play regulations after pressure from smaller European countries

‘There is international pressure to make the rules more flexible because of potential investors. And the TV contract in England has pushed other clubs in Europe to make it better for them to compete at the top level.’

Wenger believes the Barclays Premier League’s £5billion TV deal, as well as threats of legal action and breakaway factions, were factors in making Platini yield.

‘UEFA and FIFA do not have the same power as they had 10-15 years ago,’ said Wenger. ‘Everything can be challenged. There is always a contradiction of freedom of investment under European rules.

‘UEFA might be under threat as well. All these people go together and say, “We are a force, let us do what we want or we move away”. That is certainly the fear.

‘I have no problem losing the battle. I just fought for what looks to me logical. You would like a business to live within its natural resources. At the start it looked easy to apply but when they wanted to push it through it was more difficult. It never worked completely. It had a positive influence on some aspects — the increase in wages was only six per cent in the last two or three years — but before it was completely in place it is already changed.

‘It will not affect us at all. We always spend money we have. It will affect clubs who never respected FFP.’

Alexis Sanchez is all smiles in training ahead of Arsenal's Premier League clash with Sunderland

Theo Walcott works on his fitness as fellow midfielder Mesut Ozil looks to tackle the England international

Arsenal assistant manager Steve Bould shares a joke with midfielder Francis Coquelin in training

But Wenger predicts more pressure to spend on transfers.

‘The world has changed,’ he said. ‘The appreciation of a player is just down to the money you spend. If we had bought Francis Coquelin at Christmas for £40million, everybody would say, “What a signing”. I am sorry he didn’t cost any money but he is still a good player.

‘I know our future is only bright if I can keep a core of players who were educated here and play year in, year out together. That’s the difficulty in the modern job. You know cohesion is an important part of the team but you’re always under pressure because we live in a news world. People want always new.’

Arsenal trio Mathieu Flamini, Sanchez and Santi Cazorla do battle on the training pitch on Tuesday

Sanchez and Ozil go head-to-head during a training session ahead of their clash with Sunderland

Dick Advocaat, Wenger’s opposite number on Wednesday night, insists he will retire when he leaves Sunderland — be that at the end of the season or beyond.

The Dutch boss hinted for the first time last weekend that he might remain in charge after his current deal expires next week.

There have since been reports that he could be set for a return to Rangers, the club where he won the domestic treble in 1999.

Adam Johnson (pictured left, speaking to Dick Advocaat) could start for Sunderland on Wednesday night

But when asked if Sunderland would be his last job, the 67-year-old said: ‘That is for sure. I have been linked with Rangers but that is wrong. I went up there and visited their training ground. That’s the link but it’s wrong.

‘I repeat — I have not made a decision yet on my future. I have not given Sunderland an answer, either one way or another. I will not do that until next week.’

Advocaat could secure survival for the Black Cats with a point at the Emirates.

Johnson leaves Peterlee Magistrates' Court with Miss Flounders after attending his first hearing

‘Fighting relegation is something new for me and I don’t like it,’ he said. ‘I am used to working at a higher level, challenging for championships and cups.’

Adam Johnson, who appeared in court on Monday to face child sex charges, could start on Wednesday night.

‘When you are in the squad there’s always a chance you will start,’ Advocaat added.