Wenger admits to teething problems with Arsenal's new transfer team

Arsene Wenger admits that Arsenal are experiencing teething problems as a new transfer team finds its feet at Emirates Stadium.

There has been a major overhaul behind the scenes in north London, with the Gunners eager to ensure that they remain competitive in their recruitment.

Sven Mislintat has been drafted in from a chief scout role at Borussia Dortmund, while former Barcelona director of football Real Sanllehi is the club’s new head of football relations.

A £1.8 million deal for promising Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos has already been completed by those in charge of bolstering the ranks, but Wenger concedes early dealings have been difficult.

The Arsenal boss, who is famed for his frugal approach to squad building, told reporters: “It is important to find a new balance.

“For them it is more difficult than me because they have to adapt to a new environment, a different structure.

“Overall, at the moment it is a bit new and unusual. It is an important period but we are not used to working together.”

Pressed on how things can be improved and put the Gunners in a stronger position, Wenger added: “By communicating. I have meetings with them to talk about the problems and how we can make it all work.

“For Sven it is important to know all the scouts. We have a big scouting system, he has to meet everybody and explain how it works.

“That’s why it’s very time consuming at the moment.”

Acquiring Mislintat is considered to have been quite the coup for Arsenal, given his transfer record in Dortmund, but Wenger insists his scouting team already had most bases covered prior to his arrival.

The Frenchman added: “We know the players. We knew every single player in Europe before Sven arrived.

“Sometimes in a little club in Germany he might know somebody that we might ignore.”

Mavropanos is considered to be one for the future at Arsenal, with a loan move already planned, so it remains to be seen whether Wenger, Mislintat and Co can complete a deal to strengthen the first-team squad during the current window – with the Gunners involved in another battle for top-four finishes in the Premier League.