Arsene Wenger urges Arsenal fans to back team, not seek new signings

“I played [Nicolas] Anelka and people asked me, “Why did you not buy anybody?’ and Thierry Henry the same. There is a little bit of history because of what happened and overall it was always very hard for us”.

“At some stage you’ve just to believe in your players and give them a chance”.

Wenger has been in charge at Arsenal since 1996 and has come under fire from the club’s supporters for a lack of success in recent years, with FA Cup triumphs in the last two season helping to placate some frustrated Gunners fans.

“I’ve made over 300 transfers, and every time it’s a decision to make”.

Wenger says it is especially hard to sign players this season because clubs are adjusting their asking prices depending on who wants to sign their players.

He revealed that buying another forward was not going to guarantee him goals this season and said that he prefers to give an opportunity to an existing player in his squad to prove his credentials.

He’s had a couple of weeks away with the worldwide squad, did really well and scored a goal so it shows his focus was total for his global team. Do you buy the player because he strengthens his squad or not?

Wenger continued, “You look at countries like Germany, who played in Scotland or against Poland with Mario Götze up front – he’s a creative midfielder”.

Speaking ahead of Stoke City’s visit to the Emirates Stadium, the Wenger reiterated his “confidence in the ability and quality” of his strikers.

“I heard late on that Friday that his condition had not evolved as well as we thought it had, and that he needed to see a specialist for further investigation”.

Olivier Giroud is the Gunners’ top scorer with just one therefore, but the French striker goes into the game having been booed by his own countrymen on Monday for missing a number of chances in a 2-1 friendly win over Serbia.

Jack Wilshere is still not available for Arsenal after suffering a setback in his comeback from a hairline crack to his left fibula.

“We feel we’re better equipped with certain types of players that can maybe ask more questions of them”, he added. “He is progressing slowly”.

I’m not a fan of Ramsey on the right but Arsene seems unable to drop him or Cazorla so the Welshman is likely to be shunted back out to the wing with the likes of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain among the subs.