Football: Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger concerned about injuries

Published: 14 January, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

Injuries put Wenger on the defensive

ARSENE Wenger insists he will not recklessly splash the cash after adding a new centre-back to his January shopping list.

The Arsenal boss had originally said he had no intention of making any signings during the current transfer window. But another injury set-back for Thomas Vermaelen along with a hamstring injury to Sebastien Squillaci have forced the Frenchman to seek out another defender.

Names being linked with a move to the Emirates already include a return for West Ham’s Matthew Upson and Bolton’s Gary Cahill. But Wenger may still rely on “internal solutions”, especially after admitting that a cramped fixture list would make it difficult to seal any deals.  

“Ideally it would be better if they were adapted to English football,” he said. “If you need players now in January then you cannot wait three months before they can play. If the opportunity turns up we will fetch it but, if not, I believe we can cope.

“We always have people in mind and we check them out. We look everywhere. It’s difficult to find them at this period of the season but overall I feel at the moment we have so many games that it’s very important just to focus. 

“We have solutions internally with Ignasi Miquel, with Alex Song who can play centre back and with Squillaci, who should come back very quickly. 

“If we find somebody at the right level we will do it, if not we will continue like this.”