Arsenal transfer news: Arsene Wenger puts plans on hold to concentrate on fitness of Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott
Wenger wants to assess his squad before he makes any further move in the transfer market
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsene Wenger has revealed that Arsenal's lack of movement in the transfer window is due to his desire to get the squad fully fit before assessing his options.
The Gunners have made just one signing this summer in the form of Petr Cech, with the goalkeeper completing an £11m transfer from Premier League rivals Chelsea. Arsenal have been linked with the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Arturo Vidal and Morgan Schneiderlin, but with current first-team members Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta all returning from long periods out injured, Wenger wants time to see where his squad is ahead of the new season.
“The best way to strengthen other areas of the team is to get the players who did not play a lot last year and keep them fit,” Wenger told arsenal.com.
“Walcott basically did not play until the end of the season, Wilshere has not played many games. Those two were very convincing at the end of the season so I hope that this season we can benefit from their participation and competitiveness.”
Arsenal’s injury problems have gone before them in recent years, but with the club now in a financial position where they can rivals the biggest clubs for the best players thanks to paying off their Emirates Stadium debt, fans are determined to see more signings this season and in the years to come.
But Wenger has decided to show caution in the transfer market so far, leaving Arsenal fans puzzled as to why they have not moved for any outfield players. Last season Arsenal appeared thin in midfield when injuries struck Arteta, Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, and it led to Wenger recalling Francis Coquelin from a loan spell at Charlton in a move that luckily reaped its rewards as the Frenchman had a tremendous second half of the season.
With the Mesut Özil and Olivier Giroud also spending large chunks on the sidelines, Wenger wants his key players to get up and running after what was a long season that came off the back of a World Cup campaign and ended with the Gunners retaining their FA Cup trophy.
“We lost Ozil and Giroud for long periods last year and they contributed a lot in the second part of the season,” he added. “Let’s hope all these players will be fit and available.
“After, if we can still add some quality, we will do it.”
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