Arsene Wenger has declared that Arsenal are currently not close to recruiting any new faces. With the transfer window due to close in just under two weeks, that’s not the best news to hear for the red side of the north London faithful.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with the likes of Karim Benzema over the summer, with some media outlets claiming a deal has already been struck. With a desperate need for one or two quality reinforcements, Arsenal fans were eagerly anticipating some new faces this summer rather than just the one in new signing Petr Cech.
The Gunners chief, during a news conference ahead of the Liverpool game, stated: “We expect, like you, to make a signing but we are not close.”
The thing that may rankle with supporters is the fact it’s taking so long to complete any potential signings. Other teams such as Chelsea and Manchester City have both completed fairly quick transfers with Chelsea signing Pedro and Nicolas Otamendi signing for Manchester City, at a time when both players looked certain to be joining Manchester United. These deals were snatched from under the nose of Louis van Gaal’s side and concluded in a matter of days, yet Wenger over the years has claimed transfers take weeks, sometimes even months to complete.
Wenger offered his opinion on the new Chelsea signing: “It was a surprise to me, I thought he was landing in Manchester and he lands in London.
“We weren’t offered Pedro. We have many players on the flanks.”
Arsenal do in fact have many wide players at their disposal and one of those, Joel Campbell, has been linked with a move away, but Wenger spoke of his desire to keep the young Costa Rican at the club: “Personally I want to keep him.
“I need to sit down with him.
“I would be happy if he stayed.”
