Wenger: Arsenal to bring in more new faces
Reuters - Wednesday 25 July 2012, 12:46
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
said on Wednesday the Premier League club are still active in
the transfer market and will bring new players in to bolster
their squad.
Wenger, who has added Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud
during the off-season, would not be drawn on specific targets
after British media reports linked Spain and Malaga winger Santi
Cazorla with a move to the Gunners.
The Frenchman also said he was keen to ensure injured
players such as Jack Wilshere returned to duty fully fit.
Wilshere, a vital element of Arsenal's midfield, was ruled
out of the 2011-12 season with an ankle injury and is still
continuing his rehabilitation.
"I am ready to talk a lot, but not a lot about transfers,
because it is a very fragile subject and a very secret subject,"
Wenger said on Arsenal's website.
"We bought Giroud and Podolski, and I hope that we 'bought' [Abou] Diaby and Wilshere too, who didn't play at all last
season.
"We will add Wilshere to the squad as soon as possible. But
we are not at the end of it [transfers] - we will still bring
players in."
Wenger reiterated his stance on captain Robin van Persie's
future, saying he hopes to keep the Dutchman at the club.
"There is nothing to elaborate," Wenger said. "The options
are clear - we want to keep our players. I would be happy for
him to stay in the English Premier League - at Arsenal."
Van Persie, who has a year remaining on his current Emirates
Stadium deal, announced earlier this month he would not extend his
contract.
As part of Arsenal's pre-season tour, they are currently in
China's capital, Beijing, where they will play Premier League
champions Manchester City at the Bird's Nest stadium on Friday.