Wenger hints at new signings
Source: Agencies |
August 26, 2011, Friday
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was renewing his quest for major signings yesterday after his side battled through to the Champions League group stages and tried to move on from an otherwise horrid start to the campaign.
The 2-1 win at Udinese on Wednesday set up a 3-1 aggregate victory in the Champions League playoff and meant the 2006 runner-up made the group stages for the 14th season in a row.
The achievement should aid the Londoners in trying to attract new recruits in the final days of the August transfer window as Wenger attempts to fill the void left by the loss of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to Barcelona and Manchester City.
The Frenchman was giving little away but Lille winger Eden Hazard, West Ham United midfielder Scott Parker, Blackburn Rovers defender Chris Samba and Bolton Wanderers centre back Gary Cahill have all been linked in the media.
"We work very hard (on signings). I have said that many times, but we have many players out as well so I think we can be very positive as well," Wenger said. "There may be signings but I cannot give you any names tonight. I cannot lie and say we sign somebody tomorrow."
One of the big positives for Arsenal from its trip to north-eastern Italy was the performance of a signing it has already made - former Lille forward Gervinho.
The Ivorian was sent off on his Premier League debut and had so far failed to convince the Arsenal faithful but he showed superb pace, guile and composure on Wednesday as he set up both goals.
He helped an inexperienced side belie its patchy early domestic form and bravely fight back after a first-half onslaught put the hosts ahead.
Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott netted following Antonio Di Natale's opener while Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made a penalty save from the Italian.
It was a small but hugely important step to redemption for Wenger, who has revolutionized the club in his 15-year reign but has been criticized like never before after six trophyless seasons.
Opinion
"We live in a society where everybody has an opinion on everything. I'm like somebody who flies a plane for 30 years and I have to accept that somebody can come into the cockpit and thinks he can fly the plane better than I do," he said. "But that's part of our job and we have to accept that. I just would like to say that the club is in overall a very strong position."
Also, Benfica breezed through with a 3-1 win over Twente Enschede and Olympique Lyon made it 12 appearances in a row by holding out for a 1-1 draw at Rubin Kazan in the playoff second legs.
Benfica, starting with 11 foreign players including eight South Americans and boosted by a 2-2 away draw last week, scored three times in the second half.
Czech champion Viktoria Plzen qualified for the first time, beating FC Copenhagen 2-1, and BATE Borisov completed the line-up by knocking out Sturm Graz.
The five completed the line-up for yesterday's group stage draw in Monaco.
The 2-1 win at Udinese on Wednesday set up a 3-1 aggregate victory in the Champions League playoff and meant the 2006 runner-up made the group stages for the 14th season in a row.
The achievement should aid the Londoners in trying to attract new recruits in the final days of the August transfer window as Wenger attempts to fill the void left by the loss of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to Barcelona and Manchester City.
The Frenchman was giving little away but Lille winger Eden Hazard, West Ham United midfielder Scott Parker, Blackburn Rovers defender Chris Samba and Bolton Wanderers centre back Gary Cahill have all been linked in the media.
"We work very hard (on signings). I have said that many times, but we have many players out as well so I think we can be very positive as well," Wenger said. "There may be signings but I cannot give you any names tonight. I cannot lie and say we sign somebody tomorrow."
One of the big positives for Arsenal from its trip to north-eastern Italy was the performance of a signing it has already made - former Lille forward Gervinho.
The Ivorian was sent off on his Premier League debut and had so far failed to convince the Arsenal faithful but he showed superb pace, guile and composure on Wednesday as he set up both goals.
He helped an inexperienced side belie its patchy early domestic form and bravely fight back after a first-half onslaught put the hosts ahead.
Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott netted following Antonio Di Natale's opener while Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made a penalty save from the Italian.
It was a small but hugely important step to redemption for Wenger, who has revolutionized the club in his 15-year reign but has been criticized like never before after six trophyless seasons.
Opinion
"We live in a society where everybody has an opinion on everything. I'm like somebody who flies a plane for 30 years and I have to accept that somebody can come into the cockpit and thinks he can fly the plane better than I do," he said. "But that's part of our job and we have to accept that. I just would like to say that the club is in overall a very strong position."
Also, Benfica breezed through with a 3-1 win over Twente Enschede and Olympique Lyon made it 12 appearances in a row by holding out for a 1-1 draw at Rubin Kazan in the playoff second legs.
Benfica, starting with 11 foreign players including eight South Americans and boosted by a 2-2 away draw last week, scored three times in the second half.
Czech champion Viktoria Plzen qualified for the first time, beating FC Copenhagen 2-1, and BATE Borisov completed the line-up by knocking out Sturm Graz.
The five completed the line-up for yesterday's group stage draw in Monaco.
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