Wenger: ‘We will fight on’
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists current squad can still challenge for honours this season despite an unconvincing start to the new campaign.
Wenger’s men slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat at Fulham on Saturday, sparking further claims that he needs to sign a creative midfielder in order to compete both domestically and in Europe.
The Frenchman has been linked with a number of big names this summer but missed out on another target yesterday as £8m-rated Gokhan Inler opted to stay with Udinese.
Wenger, however, remains unfazed by the snub and insists he would be satisfied even if he wasn’t able to strengthen his squad by the end of the August transfer window.
“I believe we have a strong squad and I believe in the players I have instead of always looking at who might be coming in,” he said. “It is not one player who makes a difference, it is up to us as a team to show personality, strength and belief within the squad. That will make the difference.
“We just look at the right player and if we can get him, we get him. If we don’t, we don’t. If nothing is done, it will not limit our ambitions.”
Inler was one of a number of Wenger’s reported targets but the player’s agent Dino Lamberti yesterday admitted it was too soon for the Swiss international to make the step up to the Premier League.
“Any player would want to play for Arsenal, of course, but for Inler this may be perhaps a little early. Maybe a season too early,” Lamberti said.
The good news for Wenger is that Cesc Fabregas is set to return for tonight’s Champions League qualifier with FC Twente at the Emirates after recovering from a hamstring strain.
New signing Mikael Silvestre misses out with a thigh injury, while Philippe Senderos is poised to join AC Milan.