Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has commented on a lot of speculation surrounding the club, including rumoured transfers in his pre-match press conference.
To a question asking him about any potential future transfer dealings in the window, Wenger responded: “We are as open after that bad result as we were before. We were working very hard and we are focused to do what can strengthen our squad.
“The availability is not big. It is Friday today and we play on Sunday so it is important that we focus on our performance on Sunday.”
There were many queries on the Gunners activity in the transfer market, to which the boss answered ambiguously every time. On a question in which Wenger was questioned whether Arsenal needed a signing to win the league, the boss said: “When you lose a game you always get that kind of demand, we have to be honest enough and ask, ‘Could we have won the game without any addition?’ and I would say yes.
“Always the solution comes from outside, lets look inside at ourselves and produce the performance that is expected of us. I think that would be much more intelligent than always expecting a miracle from outside.” Following on from that, Wenger was asked if that meant a signing would be made: “Look it is exactly the same situation as before the West Ham game. If we find somebody anywhere who strengthens our squad then we will do it.
“It is not easy, it is not supermarket stuff where you go in and say, ‘I would like this, please can you give it to me.’ The availability is not easy.”
He also commented on the rumours that have emerged of current first choice left back Nacho Monreal getting a new 3-year deal. Wenger denied the rumours saying: “No. I’m happy with his performances but at the moment we are not in negotiations for a new contract.”
Another Arsenal player whose future is undecided is that of Costa Rica international Joel Campbell, who has been speculated to be close to a move to Italian club Palermo. Wenger, however, said: “We haven’t got anything concrete from anybody”.
The Frenchman also clarified midfielder Mathieu Flamini’s future, saying: “I expect him to be here in September. I spoke to him. At the moment he is not involved but he has no intention of leaving.
“He will be involved at some stage. He works very hard and his intention is to stay.”
New Arsenal ‘keeper Petr Cech was the next topic of questioning. The 33-year-old had a nightmare Premier League debut for the Gunners, being largely at fault for the two goals that West Ham scored. Wenger praised Cech’s reaction to the defeat, saying: “He is a great goalkeeper and needs to focus on the next one.
“He analysis it very well, he is a bright player, bright man and he knows that it is down to how well he responds to that”. Wenger was then asked for the possible reason behind Cech’s unusually poor performance to which he said: “Maybe wanting to save the team in a situation where the defending was not great”.
Then asked about the seeming lack of English players playing in the Premier League, the Frenchman said: “We said many times. I can understand that mathematically it looks an issue but I don’t think it is. Even if you play with 400 English players the national team manager will only have to look at 40. The 360 other ones will not come under any other scrutiny to be selected.
“What is important is how good the English players are and I believe the 73 who made it must be really top players because they have a wealth of competition. It’s difficult for them but can also make them better.”
Disappointingly ,when asked about the rumoured links to Sevilla’s Polish defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak, Wenger flat out denied any links, bluntly saying: “No” to any interest.
