Wenger promises stars will stay
However, having seen progress stalled when Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb moved on during the summer of 2008, the Arsenal boss has ruled out any of his regulars leaving – in fact, bringing one of the Old Guard back last night with the imminent return of Sol Campbell.
Wenger said: “Recently we have signed Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky to new contracts and that is 15 players we have re-signed this season. Now, what I want to achieve is to keep these players.
“We have worked very hard with them together. We have given them a chance at a big club and this is the way to see our policy through.
“We want to keep them together because we have seen when players have left before and we do not want to be destabilised again.”
One youngster, though, who has yet to agree new terms is midfielder Fran Merida. The Spain youth international is out of contract at the end of the season so can talk to other clubs.
Merida, 19, remains keen to stay at Arsenal but is hungry for more first-team football.
“I am at an age where you need to play,” said Merida, who is understood not to be keen on another loan spell away from the Gunners.
“In the last two seasons, maybe I did not have a run of games, so it is a bit difficult. But I am trying to train really hard, because I do not play that much, and to show the boss I am ready – that is all I can do.”
Wenger has money to spend but will only do so on talent he believes can add to the squad.
“We are open to new players coming in, and in every position,” he said. “It is a bit like being a fisherman – you try here, you try there. You have a list in your head of priorities: one, two, three, four – and you always try to get number one.”
Cesc Fabregas, meanwhile, is expected to recover from a hamstring problem in time for Sunday’s game at Bolton.
However, the extent of Denilson’s latest injury, after the midfielder fell to the ground during the closing stages against Everton and had to be carried off, has not yet been confirmed.
With Alex Song away at the African Nations Cup, Wenger had pencilled the 21-year-old in as cover.
Defender Kieran Gibbs wants a swift return to action following surgery on a fractured metatarsal.
“I feel fine at the minute, and have been doing some work in the gym,” Gibbs said.
In a strange coincidence, both of new Bolton boss Owen Coyle’s first two matches in charge will be against the Gunners, with the re-arranged fixture at the Emirates Stadium following last week’s postponement now set for January 20.
