Wenger: New Signings Not The Solution

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Arsene Wenger - Arsenal (PA)

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The Gunners surprisingly lost their first game of the season yesterday, courtesy of a first half goal by Brede Hangeland that had Wenger fuming on the touchline. He said: “It was not excusable to concede a goal like that.”

Yet throughout the game Arsenal looked weak in midfield and with Cesc Fabregas and Abou Diaby missing through injury and Matthieu Flamini, Gilberto Silva and Alex Hleb having left the club in the summer, they had relatively few options in the middle of the park.

Wenger chose to partner Emmanuel Eboue with Denilson in the centre of midfield with Theo Walcott and new signing Samir Nasri on the flanks, but it failed to pay off and Fulham looked by far the stronger side.

Speaking to the media, after the game, Wenger revealed that although he was disappointed by the defeat, he did not feel it meant he needed to sign new players. He explained: “Of course I am frustrated but when you lose a game it is not always the solution to buy.”

Arsenal have been linked with moves for both Gareth Barry and Xabi Alonso in recent weeks, however Wenger appears to believe that the reason for the defeat lies in the current squad and not in the transfer market. Wenger insisted: “We did not create enough chances and have to look at why and how we can do it better. I didn't feel we were into the game right from the start and you can't be like that.”

The Frenchman also pointed to the start of last season when Arsenal also stuttered early on, but managed to snatch vital victories.

“We had problems as well to win our (early) games last year but we did win them and it made things easier. Now we have to respond,” explained Wenger, “We had 60 minutes to respond after Fulham scored but we did not create a lot and I don't know why.”

Despite losing several players in the summer and bringing in Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey, Wenger emphasised that the current team was not so different from last season’s which threatened topped the Premier League for long periods of the season. He concluded: “But let's not make comparisons with this team and last season's team because it is not a lot different. If it is better only the future will tell us that.”

Gill Clark