The Arsenal manager had asked: "Can you buy players at Waitrose?" when talking about the transfer market, which the supermarket jumped on as the centre piece for a series of posters in its stores near the football club's ground.

Waitrose quickly launched the adverts carrying straplines such as "Sorry Mr Wenger, we don't sell footballers at Waitrose. But you will find all the other essentials for a match at home," and feature products from the Waitrose' essential range.