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Wenger: Arsenal do not need any more new signings
Marc Isaacs30.07.09
Arsene Wenger today revealed he is prepared to start the new season without adding to his Arsenal squad.
Speculation grew this morning over a shock return to north London for Patrick Vieira but club sources insist there has not yet been any formal offer made to the 33-year-old.
Tottenham and Fulham are among a host of clubs monitoring the situation, as the Inter Milan midfielder looks to secure first-team football ahead of next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa.
The France international is the latest player to be linked with a move to Emirates Stadium following the sale of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure to Manchester City.
Wenger is expected to wait until after this weekend's Emirates Cup before deciding whether to add to his squad.
He said: "I feel we are strong enough but if we can add then we will do it. In England people think that all the problems can be sorted out by buying players.
"I believe the biggest target is to work hard in training, improve what we can improve and have confidence in the players that we have.
"If we need to add then we will. We have money available, so for us it is now important to spend it in the right way when we do it or if we do it.
"But unfortunately I cannot tell you that we are close to signing anyone at the moment."
Emmanuel Eboue is set to become the next player to leave, as Fiorentina aim to complete a £7million deal by the end of the week.
The 26-year-old was offered to the Serie A club earlier this summer as part of a bid to bring midfielder Felipe Melo to Emirates, only for Juventus to hijack the move.
Eboue is thought to have become frustrated by his role in the Gunners squad, having lost his favoured right-back position to Bacary Sagna and finding himself frequently played out of position in midfield.
The Ivory Coast international appeared to wave goodbye to the Arsenal supporters after the club completed their pre-season tour to Austria last night with a 1-0 win over Hannover 96, thanks to a goal from Cesc Fabregas.
Toure was unveiled at Manchester City today after completing his £14m move and showed his appreciation to Wenger for his help during his seven years at the club when he said: "Arsenal has been a really good time for me. I want to thank Mr Wenger and all the Arsenal fans for all the support they give to me."
Meanwhile, Tomas Rosicky could miss the Emirates Cup after the club confirmed he suffered a "minor problem" while playing against Barnet on 18 July, which forced him to sit out all of Arsenal's subsequent pre-season friendlies.
Reader views (26)
Why can't the club come clean and admit the debt for the new stadium. I preferred Highbury, it might have been a smaller ground but at least there was more atmosphere their and more importantly Wenger could afford to buy a decent team
- Jon, London, London
I sincerely hope Arsene buys a couple of players he has already identified so that we can compete this season. I feel Man City will go for the cups and 4th spot this season and we need to be able to beat them.
- Kamsoman, London, UK
@Goonergirl
We've heard this all before though!!!!
He was saying things like this at the same time last season, "We are strong enough", "we have x and y player returning".
So far, this summer has been a carbon copy of last season. Allow two first teamers to leave (last summer Hleb/Flamini this season Ade/Toure). Bring in one replacement player (Vermaelen or last season Nasri) and a youngster (Ramsey, and this season Jamie Edge).
Then start prattling on about how we're strong enough, but we might buy if we find the right player, of the right quality for the right place.
Then we have a disastrous start to the season and have to make last ditch attempts to sign the players we should've signed months beforehand (like we did with Alonso last summer).
Cue disastrous season!
We've seen and heard it all before and, frankly, I don't trust a word Arsene says any more. Either he buys the central midfielder we desperately need, the CB/RB we need given Toure and proabably Eboue's departures, and a bit of cover up front and on the wings given Ade's departure and injuries to Nasri/Rosicky, or I'm going to get right behind those calling for his head.
He has, so far, gone back on everything he said at the end of last season, failing to keep the squad together and buy the required players/experience we need.
Buy players Arsene! Or leave!
- Steve, London
I think Wenger will buy before the start of the season,the nearer to the start of the season there will be bargains to be had,other managers with huge unlimited funds can rush in and pay silly money for players,Wenger will bide his time and not be rushed.Another thing is that when Wenger shows the least bit of interest in a player rivals are on it in a flash,I trust Wenger will come up with a couple of decent signings before the window closes.
- Jim Ex Pat,Islington, thailand
By selling some of our African players we will be stronger this season. It is the African Nations Cup again and they usually all disappear anyway - returning with Malaria, 3 week hangover etc...
- Big Al, London
Sorry Arsene though I feel that the sale of Adebayor and Toure is a good bit of business please dont bleat at the turn of the year that we have been unlucky through injuries!!!!
I anticipate that your comments are tongue in cheek and some new talent will be in place shortly.
- Jonathan Jacobs, Potters Bar, Herts
Don't just read the headline - read the whole story.
He has not totally ruled out signing anyone.
He said: "I feel we are strong enough but if we can add then we will do it.
Arsene has never panicked bought in the past and I am sure he is not going to start now just because the media and some so called fans are getting hyterical.
- Goonergirl, London
The only teams that have really bought so far are Real Madrid and Man City; quite frankly they are not of this world. Man U have lost a couple of world class players and they aren't panicking! I wish so called Arsenal fans would not belive everything they read in the tabloids. If Arsenal spent as they wished there would be no team left. I trust AW!
- Adam, Dartford, England
I'm afraid the professor has been smoking that funny stuff if he thinks the current crop of players we have will win us honours. I think we will we zip and our quality players will be off. Who could blame them? If we don't get into Europe this season, I think the board must go and put someone in who is will to put their hand in the pockets and spend on the team.
A very concerned season ticket holder
- Chippie, London
I presume that Mr Wenger is saying that for business reason, ie Clubs know he has £41 mill available and will quote inflated prices, if he's too obvious.
However, if he doesn't buy anybody between now and the start of the season and we get off to a bad start, there's going to be an audience reaction.
Attendances will fall below the sixty thousand number for the first time as you can't not put your hand in your pocket but still expect the fans to put their hands in their pockets each week.
I'm sure Arsenal will buy again in August though.
- Terry Sullivan, Islington
Wenger should go if he really beleives that the squad is strong enough to win anything this year. Unfortunately he has become deluded. Noone in their right mind thinks Arsenal have any chance of anything this year except losing their CL place to City or Spurs. How can he possibly think Bentdner, Song, Ramsay, Eduardo, Eboue etc are going to frighten anybody. Without three quality players we will get beaten by the first decent team we meet in the Carling, FA, CL and be out of the PL chase by November.
- Spider, Essex uk
I am an Arsenal supporter and I saw the poor performance of Arsenal against Barnet FC few weeks ago. I can confirm that Wenger's optimism is very misplaced. He is just in a dream land. Other clubs are strengthening their team and he is weakening a team that is already weak. It is true that we have good young players jut like any other club, but we do not have exceptional players like you Chelsea, Liverpool, Man U, Man City and some other clubs. If arsenal intends to compete at the highest level, we surely need to buy experienced quality players. I cannot imagine how poor this season would be for Arsenal!
- Ola Showunmi, Enfield, UK
I agree with the fact that some clubs look at transfers as a quick fix. But c'mon gaffer!! Either we do or we don't. One minute he says we have a strong squad and the next he's saying that we would look at opportunities. He is going to loose a lot of support from loyal fans if he doesn't do something in this window!! Bringing back Vieira will help appease some fans but we need a front man and a defender. We need to build confidance within the club and that means starting with the fans. Boards come and go but fans will be around forever. Arsene keep the fans happy and on your side!!!
- Uday Desai, Coventry UK
we was not good enough last season with adebayor and toure arsenal have to strenthen the squad we are going backwards
- Rico, loughton
Yet more double-talk from the maestro.
- Ted, London
SHOCKING!!!!!!!! is the only word to discribe some of the stuff that comes out of this man's mouth. But then again if your highest aim in the league this season is 4th then he is spot, perhaps he can sell some more players whilst at at, oh and you might wanna throw in some free supporters as well coz they'll be leaving in droves as well. well done arse------ne.
- Norbert -Gooner, london
Sorry Arsene, but I beg to differ. You say we are strong enough - but for what ? To win the premiership ? champions leauge? F.A. Cup ?
Or just to make a decent showing for most of the season?
\everyone knows where we need to strengthen the squad and, although I believe in your youth project, youngsters need some added experience if they are to achieve something this season.
- Johnonline, Devon England
Wenger (if this quote is accurate) is wrong. We need a big central defender, a big strong central defensive midfielder and another striker. Vermaleen is a Toure replacement but that is just Gallas light. We need a rugged ball winner in defence and in central midfield to assist Cesc. The likes of Song and Denilson aren't good enough and Diaby may make it one day.
One or both of Rosicky and Eduardo will have a recurrence so we will be light on strikers.
The answer is Hangelaand, Huntelaar, and Inler. Collectively will cost around £35m, and we may get to offload Silvestre and or Song in the process.
Just do it and give us a chance of winning. If we don't, the world class players we have will become frustrated at not winning anything and leave. I for one am alos tired of hearing 'he will be awesome in 8 years'. You no longer have that luxury....
- Simon, UK
Deluded! Europa cup beckons for next year.LOL!
- Matt, Richmond
Wenger, what a guy - he can talk out of both sides of his mouth without looking stupid.
- Ted, London
If this is true than Wenger once again is letting the supporters down and again not keeping his words, like last year. First he says that he needs to sign 2 or 3 players and than he fails to keep his word.
Then when he sees things are not going well he will buy any player.
Well I saw them yesterday against a weak german team and I wasn't impressed at all.
Arsenal defence is still weak.
A.Messina
- A.Messina, Malta
Arsenal NEEDS TO BUY. It is obvious that the team needs to create a strong partnership between Song and a quality Midfilder to allow Febragas a roaming role behind the Stricker. Just look at Liverpool last session and see what I am talking about. Please get Viera (for the short term) or Flamini back or better still buy a proven player.
It is also obvious that the central defence is weak even with Toure. Toure needs to be replaced and a decision needs to be made on Senderos quickly.
The attack is also an issue. Arsenal needs a strong, skilled and tall stricker up front to focus the attack.
It is arrogant and unreasonable to think the team is okay when the same assumptions have failed in the last four years. Maybe their is something Wenger is not telling the fans.
- Kanayo, Lagos, Nigeria
While I trust the squad we have, we seriously need extra bodies to be able to compete with the big teams. Its all well and good looking at the squad at the beginning of the season when everyone is fit but its when we get to January and February and key players are missing that we will again be found wanting! Arsenal in my opinion should try and snap up Hangeland for £10M, Catermole for £10M, Huntelaar for £15M and also bring in Vieria on a pay as you play. We would then be ready for this year and being able to cope with alot of fixtures
- Graham Clark, Welwyn Garden City
He didnt say that. Bit of a twist on his words, He didnt say we dont need signings. He said, IF we need signings, we have to money to spend, but its important to spend properly.
- Ashley Morgan, London
Arsene Wenger is possibly correct with Vermaelen signed to replace Toure, having Senderos, Traore & Gavin Hoyte back from loan deals and Rosicky & Eduardo back from long term injuries. The younger players will have gained a years maturity & new talent such as Wishere & Emmanuel-Thomas will be joining the first team squad. Although personally I would like to see us sign a top class keeper, a tall centre-half & a strong defensive midfield player.
- Rob Gooner, North London
Astounding Comment - we were no where near good enough last year and have been weakend by selling Toure, Adebayour lacked class and commitment and won't be missed. Poor season ahead for the gunners I fear.
- Paul Hawkins, Southend Essex
