Arsenal striker Welbeck will miss season kickoff

But Arsenal manager Wenger, who has so far signed only Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech for £11 million during the close-season, said on Friday that Harris’s comments were over the top.

Szczesny was dropped by Wenger after a calamitous display in the 2-0 defeat away to Southampton on New Year’s Day, and his post-match antics did little to help his cause, as he was caught smoking in the showers, as reported by the Daily Mail.

One of the club’s directors Philip Harris claimed the gunners had over £200m in the bank and were ready to bring a big name to the Emirates Stadium. “You could say to Arsene we’ve got no money and he wouldn’t worry, or you could give him £100m and he might not spend it”, he added.

Wenger assured Ospina of regular first-team opportunities in numerous competitions after his impressive performances last season earned him the number one role in North London.

We take on Lyon tomorrow before entertaining Wolfsburg on Sunday afternoon and hopefully the players can get through the games unscathed and improve their fitness ahead of next weeks Community Shield against Chelsea.

Harris had also said that a centre-forward was on Wenger’s wanted list.

We did not have (Danny) Welbeck or (Alexis) Sanchez available, they are big players.

“Before, I was exposed to ‘Who will go?’ and now the question I get is ‘Who will come?’ “.

Wenger indicated he continues to be in the market for another high-calibre addition, with both Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema and Borussia Dortmund’s Gabon worldwide Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reported targets. “Last year was a post-World Cup year and some players came back mentally exhausted, hopefully we can take advantage of that”. “It’s down to us as individuals to make that place ours but I’m up for the challenge and I’m sure the other boys are as well”.

“Maybe other teams will sign lots of players but that may be worse for them”.

“Our offensive and creative players scored 10 to 12 goals, that’s what you need”.

It is a pretty wonderful quote, but the bolded part (the emphasis is mine) is crucial – there’s £200 million in the accounts, not in the transfer fund. The two are not the same.

The Gunners doubled their lead soon after, this time Oxlade-Chamberlain collected a pass from Giroud after some smart work by Ramsey and drilled a low shot past Anthony Lopes in the Lyon goal.