Arsenal’s Euro 2016 stars have returned to training amid an injury crisis ahead of Sunday’s Premier League opener against Liverpool. “On the other hand, of course we are looking outside to strengthen”.
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“Everybody’s ambitious – never has the Premier League been gifted with so many ambitious people or clubs at the start of the season”, Wenger told Arsenal Player.
Arsenal are in talks to sign German defender Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia, but Wenger stated that he did not expect any more signings before the Liverpool game.
The Frenchman said: “Who expected Leicester to be champion last season?”
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has urged Arsene Wenger to complete a defender signing to strengthen his side’s back four for the 2016/17 season. “If Gabriel is out, Per Mertesacker is out and Koscielny not ready – that’s a lot of players”.
Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker will both be sidelined, while Laurent Koscielny is facing a fight to prove his fitness following this summer’s European Championship.
Wenger has often frustrated fans with his perceived reluctance to pay big transfer fees, but insists that he’s right to be careful with the club’s money.
Liverpool’s transfer business is largely complete and their pre-season form has been exceptional at times, culminating in an electrifying 4-0 demolition of Barcelona at Wembley.
“Today the Premier League is the most powerful as well as the most attractive and maybe the most popular in the world”.
Wenger said: “Gabriel has an ankle problem and he will be out for six to eight weeks”. When you lose only three games in a season in a hard league like that, you are a fantastic champion.
Eighteen-year-old Krystian Bielik offers another option, but the Polish U18 international’s inexperience makes him an unlikely candidate.
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Cape Town – Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger appears to have ended the confusion over where Theo Walcott will play this season by insisting his best position is as a central striker.
