Arsene Wenger says he signed Mesut Ozil late because Real Madrid delayed Gareth Bale transfer

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied being pressured into forking out £42.5m on Mesut Ozil and said the deal was only done late because Real Madrid took their time over Gareth Bale's world record move.

Ozil made the switch to the Gunners from Los Blancos on deadline day for a club record deal which went a long way to pacifying critics who had urged the Frenchman to delve into their perceived war-chest in the transfer window.

Angry fans shouted at Wenger to "spend some f******* money" after the 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa on the opening day of the Premier League season.

However, the Frenchman said that the deal was only held up due to Madrid's procrastination over the £86m signing of Bale from Tottenham Hotspur.

The Welshman eventually became the planet's most expensive player last month and Wenger said that the two deals were linked.

"The timing of the [Ozil] deal was linked to the Gareth Bale deal, but also all the other deals as well because Real Madrid bought Asier Illarramendi and Isco in the summer," Wenger told the club's official website.

"When I first contacted Real Madrid, things were quite open. They also needed time for Carlo Ancelotti to get to know his squad better, so he could make a decision.

"So all these aspects put together explains why it happened so late."

The Gunners boss also dismissed suggestions that he capitalised on the chaos of deadline day by moving for Ozil late on, instead claiming that the German international had been a long-term target.

In action: Ozil has impressed with his early form

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He added: "We had a big advantage, and that was that I had been in contact with Mesut before, when he first went to Real Madrid three years ago.

"I spoke to him back then on the phone, in the end he told me he wanted to go to Real Madrid, so I wished him well, but that first contact had been made.

"He knew that I wanted him for a long time, and this was not the first time I tried to sign him."

Wenger, who celebrated his 17th year in charge last month, says he is relaxed by the fee that they paid for the former Madrid playmaker, despite the price being over two-and-a-half times more than the £16m he paid for Andrey Arshavin in 2009.

"Of course, it’s a big responsibility to spend that amount of money but I feel comfortable with it because we had the money to do it," he said.

"Before we couldn’t have done it because we didn’t have the money available. It’s as simple as that. I had a huge sense of responsibility when we built the stadium to get the club through it without going bankrupt.

"I - more than anyone - want the great players to play for Arsenal Football club. If we have to spend the money to do that, I will spend the money."

Ozil has enjoyed a fine start to his Arsenal career, playing a leading role in helping them to the top of the Premier League.

The leaders return to action after the international break with the visit of Norwich City on Saturday.