Aug 24 2011, 10:14 AM
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Arsène Wenger intends to plug the gaps left by the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri before the transfer window closes.
The French midfielder is on the verge of signing for Manchester City after Arsenal agreed terms with their Premier League rivals on Tuesday. Nasri's move will go through subject to a medical and registration processes.
Wenger is currently in Italy for Wednesday's Champions League Play-Off against Udinese but the manager is determined to reinforce his squad when he returns.
"What is at stake at the moment is for us to qualify tomorrow and we can only do it with the players we have at the moment," said Wenger.
"They are good enough to achieve that and therefore after that we will see what we can do. We are working very hard on the transfer market.
"We brought in [Alex Oxlade-] Chamberlain - you will see that he will be a great player. Gervinho will be a great player for this club too but we want ideally more. We are short in midfield at the moment and that is where we want to strengthen."
Fabregas and Nasri's departures have coincided with the start of Arsenal's campaign but Wenger believes that the rest of his squad will rise above recent events to get the right result in Italy.
"There is always a concern [that players can be affected] but it is not an excuse," said the manager.
"You are always concerned about the consequences it can have on the team. It can have a positive consequence as well - if you are strong mentally it can increase the solidarity, knowing you have to fight more.
"That is ideally what you want from mentally strong players."
The French midfielder is on the verge of signing for Manchester City after Arsenal agreed terms with their Premier League rivals on Tuesday. Nasri's move will go through subject to a medical and registration processes.
Wenger is currently in Italy for Wednesday's Champions League Play-Off against Udinese but the manager is determined to reinforce his squad when he returns.
"What is at stake at the moment is for us to qualify tomorrow and we can only do it with the players we have at the moment," said Wenger.
"They are good enough to achieve that and therefore after that we will see what we can do. We are working very hard on the transfer market.
"We brought in [Alex Oxlade-] Chamberlain - you will see that he will be a great player. Gervinho will be a great player for this club too but we want ideally more. We are short in midfield at the moment and that is where we want to strengthen."
Fabregas and Nasri's departures have coincided with the start of Arsenal's campaign but Wenger believes that the rest of his squad will rise above recent events to get the right result in Italy.
"There is always a concern [that players can be affected] but it is not an excuse," said the manager.
"You are always concerned about the consequences it can have on the team. It can have a positive consequence as well - if you are strong mentally it can increase the solidarity, knowing you have to fight more.
"That is ideally what you want from mentally strong players."
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This post has been edited by D-y: Aug 24 2011, 10:15 AM
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