Wenger still in the hunt

Boss has targets in mind but will not rebuild promising squad

Last updated: 23rd June 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wenger still in the hunt

Wenger: Transfer targets

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Arsene Wenger has vowed to continue bolstering his Arsenal squad this summer but insists a rebuild is not necessary.

The Frenchman signed Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen from Dutch giants Ajax for an undisclosed fee last week as the Emirates board continue to put faith in his abilities in the transfer market.

The loss of star players Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini last summer severely damaged the flow of Wenger's team last season as Arsenal struggled for form early on following the loss of key midfielders.

After making a rare impact signing in Andrey Arshavin in January, which sparked the Gunners' Premier League season into life, many expected Wenger to chase up more superstar signings in a bid to make a title push next term.

However, the 59-year-old has other ideas and insists the side's fine end-of-season run suggests the rebuild is almost complete.

"We lost Hleb and Flamini last summer and we have had to rebuild. But we have done that now and the future looks bright," Wenger told the Mirror.

"We don't want to have to rebuild again so I want to keep all the players together for next season. I don't want to lose anyone.

"I want to add to the squad and I have identified one or two targets. But identifying players and buying them are two different things.

"Ideally I would like to bring everybody in before we start back in pre-season training in July. I don't want to leave it until the end of August.

"We are at a stage were we need to convince people that this team does a lot of things right. It does not need to be transformed.

"When you go on a long unbeaten run in the Premier League and reach two semi-finals, common sense should tell you that.

"We have to take encouragement from what we have done in the season just gone.

Next Season

Wenger's side spent much of last season outside of the top four places as Everton and Aston Villa threatened to break the 'big four'.

The North Londoners eventually secured fourth spot comfortably after finding their feet and Wenger believes his team will be less predictable next term.

"Next season we will play the formation and system that most suits the players and the balance of the team," he said.

"That means it's not rigid. It can evolve throughout the season, depending on circumstances and personnel.

"If you play with Theo Walcott for example, you are more tempted to go for three midfielders because Theo is more of a forward than a midfielder in a 4-4-2."