Gunners boss hails transfer business

Wenger stands by his summer activity

By Zain Alvi | 3rd September 2012

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has expressed his delight at the club’s transfer business this summer, implying that the doubters are already being proven wrong by the likes of Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla.

Podolski and Cazorla both scored impressive goals in the Gunners’ 2-0 win at Liverpool yesterday while third signing Olivier Giroud also came close.

Wenger was criticized in recent days for not doing enough to replace departed stars Robin van Persie and Alex Song in the summer transfer window, particularly after the club opened the season with two goalless draws.

However, as always, the Frenchman kept faith in his ways throughout a tricky trip to Anfield and after walking out with a statement win, he reiterated that the Gunners’ recent transfer activity is, indeed, an example of sound business.

“We come out of the game with the feeling we had a good performance but there is also a good potential and team energy and that is always very interesting because there is something to work on,” Wenger told Arsenal.com following the full-time whistle at Liverpool.

The manager added: “Everybody understood very quickly that Cazorla would not take six months to settle and Podolski is deadly when there is a chance, you see that in training.

“He showed good team work as well today, and I am pleased for them. Just Giroud needs a goal, but as long as the team wins we know that will come.”

Standing by his midfield

Arsene also emphasized that his decision to ignore any further additions to the club’s midfield following Song’s move to Barcelona was not incorrect; in fact, he maintains that the squad has extra-ordinary depth within the current ranks.

“Look at our midfield; you have [Mikel] Arteta, Cazorla, [Abou] Diaby, [Jack] Wilshere, [Francis] Coquelin, [Tomas] Rosicky, and [Aaron] Ramsey. There is a fight for places and there is quality.

“It is too early [to say if the options are better than last season]. I am confident we have good potential and it is down to us to improve, there a lot of things to work on. There is a good potential there.”

Indeed, even with some of the aforementioned midfielders injured, the Gunners remain unbeaten and their win over the Reds will surely send them into the international break in confident mood.

In fact, such is their level of confidence at the moment that Wenger is not impressed at losing the current momentum before the club returns home to face Southampton.

“It is not very welcome for us but that is the fixture list, we can’t decide about that,” he concluded.