By James Dall Last updated: 9th May 2008
Wenger: Eyeing players of worth
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has stated that his 'two or three' summer targets must boast talent and values.
There has been talk of an exodus at Emirates Stadium after reports claimed that Alexander Hleb could be next to follow Mathieu Flamini in seeking pastures new.
However, Wenger has since quashed rumours of Hleb's departure, and instead turned attention towards his summer transfer targets.
"There are plenty of players who want to join us, don't worry, we have no problem on that front," he said on the club's official website.
"What is unbelievable is I'm sitting here like we have killed all the players and when I go to my office I have 220 calls from players who want to come in.
"What we need next year is two or three players maybe. We need talent. I think a huge player is better than a huge name. You have huge names who produce very little at the moment.
"But don't worry, we will have a team to compete for the championship next year.
"What is a big club? Is it only down to trophies? This club here has a history of being built by people of values.
"For me that is a big club, a club that comes out of people's desire to respect values. Look at our whole history, it's clean.
"That is why at the head of the club you have a responsibility to keep these values and to make sure that people who come after you can be proud.
"They may say this manager didn't win enough trophies, but the club has kept its reputation within the values for the whole history. That is vital.
"I have a responsibility, it is not what I like, it is not what the players like, it is what is good for the club. That's the only decision I will make."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Arsenal vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Tottenham |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Wigan |
| 17:30 | Sunderland vs Liverpool |
| Sunday 17th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Chelsea vs Portsmouth |
| 16:00 | Man Utd vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Liverpool vs Middlesbrough |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Everton |
| 17:30 | Fulham vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 24th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wigan vs Chelsea |
| 16:00 | Man City vs West Ham |
| Monday 25th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 11th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 8 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 Newcastle | |
| West Ham 2 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Derby 0 - 4 Reading | |
| Sunderland 0 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Wigan 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Birmingham 4 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Tottenham 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Chelsea 1 - 1 Bolton | |
| Monday 5th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Sunday 4th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 1 - 0 Man City | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton | |
| Saturday 3rd May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Fulham 2 - 0 Birmingham | |
| Reading 0 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Middlesbrough 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Derby | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 2 Wigan | |
| Man Utd 4 - 1 West Ham | |
Read about who to buy and who to avoid ahead of Sky Sports' Fantasy Football is launched.
Opta break down what Stoke City can expect from £5.5million signing Dave Kitson.
Skysports.com wraps up its Shaping up for the Season feature ahead of the new term.
Carlos Tevez believes Cristiano Ronaldo's desire to join Real Madrid should be respected.
Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes sees himself retiring from football in two years' time.
Dirk Kuyt has warned Premier League defences Fernando Torres will be even better this season.
All the day's moves as Sunderland close in on Pascal Chimbonda and Blackburn are linked with Tottenham's Paul Robinson.
Sunderland have completed the signing of Teemu Tainio from Spurs for an undisclosed fee.