Tuesday 31 January 2017 09:06, UK
Arsene Wenger has claimed Arsenal's current attacking resources are the strongest he has ever had at the club.
Wenger has Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Lucas Perez and Danny Welbeck among his striking options and has rated the current crop ahead of members of the Gunners' 2003/2004 squad.
Sanchez has registered 15 league goals this season - the joint most in the division - while Giroud has scored five goals in his last six games.
Asked if he now has the best attacking unit in his time at Arsenal, Wenger replied: "Yes. I think certainly numbers-wise and quality-wise together.
"We had never had so many players who could perform and score goals. Certainly never.
"We had Bergkamp, Henry and after that Van Persie behind, Wiltord, Pires - it was not bad. They had the quality but now we have a large number."
With so many options to call upon, Wenger also addressed whether keeping all of his attacking players could pose a problem.
"That is a good question and I don't know in fact," said Wenger. "I think it is to make the decision for the next game that you think is the right one. Sometimes you consider the problem you face.
"Sometimes you consider the fitness of the players, the fact that for example they have played three day before, have they recovered or not. You just try to be honest in your decision and keep everybody on board.
"They are all committed to the club. For example, at the start of the season I bought Perez - who for me is a very good player - but why? Because Welbeck was out until now basically.
"I didn't know how it would take. No doctor can tell you it is March or January. He was ahead of schedule so after sometimes you have a congestion there as some players come back quicker than expected. But when you make the decision to buy, you don't know."
Wenger has yet to venture into the transfer market during the January window, and he says the depth of options available to him have played a part in his decision not to seek new signings.
"It's not only to buy players, you have to have a need in your squad first of all," Wenger said. "I believe that number-wise and quality-wise, we have what is required to do well.
"Now it's down to us to perform and to produce with the quality of our focus, the quality of our ambition and desire to produce the performance in every single game."
