Wenger won't reach for cheque book

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The Gunners are facing up to a third successive season without silverware having been dumped out of the Champions League to Liverpool in midweek and falling behind in the race for the Premier League title. Critics have suggested Wenger must loosen the purse strings when the transfer window opens, but the Frenchman retains complete faith in his current squad.

"We will continue to do what we've done. I will buy but not too much in the summer," he said. "My priority is to keep this team together because we are still young, especially in some departments. If we can add one more body we will do so, not one in each department - just one experienced guy."

With the benefit of hindsight, Wenger would have broken the bank to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, whose goals have driven United to the Premier League summit and a Champions League semi-final.

Ronaldo was pipped to the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year award by Kaka, but Wenger believes the Portuguese winger has now surpassed the Brazilian at the pinnacle of the game.

"Cristiano is the best player in the world at the moment because he has the combination of the two most difficult things in life - style and efficiency," he said.

"I have always loved efficiency and he had that in the goals he has scored. He plays as a winger but he's scored 37 goals. You cannot deny that."