ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE West Brom v Arsenal:ARSENE WENGER has moved to douse expectations over Arsenal's recruitment policy by suggesting the economic downturn, and restrictions over the number of squad members who can be registered in the Premier League, will ensure it is a "very quiet summer" in the transfer market.
Arsenal will attempt to secure third place, and automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League, by winning at West Brom tomorrow with Wenger hopeful that gaining entry into Europe’s elite club competition will provide a positive influence on his captain, Robin van Persie, ahead of talks with the striker over a new four-year contract at the club.
Van Persie, who is entering the final year of his current deal, had been seeking evidence of ambition in terms of squad strengthening this summer, with the €13.5 million arrival of German striker Lukas Podolski having set an early upbeat tone.
There is interest in Ajax’s Jan Vertonghen, Junior Hoilett of Blackburn Rovers, Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa and the Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila, but any major outlay would be dependent upon offloading players, many of whom are on lucrative contracts, from the current squad.
Wenger has spoken pessimistically over the prospect of signing M’Vila, despite the France midfielder having indicated a desire to move to the Emirates.
“I feel we will have a very quiet summer on the transfer market because there is a huge crisis that is hitting Europe,” he said. “In England it will be quiet because of the 25-man squad rule and, if you cannot move the players out, you cannot buy.
“Let’s not forget we bought Podolski already, and that another way for us to strengthen is to get [Jack] Wilshere and [Abou] Diaby back, neither of whom played at all the whole season. And so you look at the number of players: we have 34 players when they all come back. That means you have to pay nine not to play.”
Wenger acknowledged qualification for the Champions League would be preferable to starting the new season in the Europa League, while he admitted that might have an influence on Van Persie’s thinking, he was anxious not to dismiss Uefa’s secondary club competition as valueless.
“I am inclined to think, ‘yes’, it might be easier,” he said. “But I don’t know whether it would have an influence on him. Anyway, we don’t focus on just that. Robin is not at the end of his contract.
“Personally, I don’t feel the Europa League is a ‘useless competition’. What’s a useless competition for you? For me, a good competition is when you see two good teams play a good game.
“I watched Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid in the final and I didn’t miss a second. If you ask me if we’d prefer to be in the Europa League or the Champions League, then yes you are right: you want to be in the Champions League. But you play where you have to, and it’s better to play there than not at all.”
Guardian Service
