Wenger wants to sign defender in transfer window

ARSENE WENGER will do his best to bring in another centre-back during the January transfer window — but the Arsenal manager insists he will not just buy anyone for the sake of it.

With Thomas Vermaelen still sidelined indefinitely by a troublesome achilles problem and Sebastien Squillaci set to be out for at least three weeks with a hamstring strain picked up in the FA Cup third-round draw against Leeds, the Gunners suddenly find themselves short at the heart of their backline.

Reserve-team captain Ignasi Miquel, 18, was on the bench at the weekend, and could feature again in tonight’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Ipswich.

Both Bacary Sagna, who is in the middle of a three-match ban after his red card against Manchester City, and midfielder Alex Song can play in the middle of defence.

Wenger insists Arsenal will not simply make a panic buy as cover for Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou.

Bolton’s Gary Cahill, Montpellier’s Bosnian international Emir Spahic and Werder Bremen stopper Per Mertesacker — who would be ineligible for the Champions League tie against Barcelona having played in the same group as Tottenham — are all reported targets.

Wenger said: “We always have people in mind, and we look everywhere.

“It is difficult to find at this period of the season, but overall I feel at the moment we have so many games that it is very important to focus on the next game.

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

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

Wenger added: “Ideally it would be better if they were adapted to English football because if you need players now in January you cannot wait three months before they can play for you.

“If the opportunity turns up we will fetch it, but if not we can cope. I believe we can cope.”

Arsenal needed a last-minute penalty from captain Cesc Fabregas, who had started on the bench, to keep them in the FA Cup with a 1-1 draw against Leeds.

Wenger believes that game will have served as a warning to his side against any thoughts of complacency at Portman Road tonight, where new manager Paul Jewell will be in the stands for the first time since taking over from Roy Keane.

“We have been warned,” Wenger said. “We will certainly be on our toes going to Ipswich.’’ Fabregas agreed with Wenger’s sentiments, stating: “Although Ipswich are a Championship team, that can make them even more dangerous.

“Their motivation will be very high — these will be the biggest two games of their year.

“They will be desperate to beat us, they will want to show their strengths, and their motivation will be as high as possible.

“If we want to get through we will have to match that motivation, if not raise it further.”

Meanwhile former Ireland international Mark Kennedy says he was disappointed to see Roy Keane leave Ipswich Town last week.

The 34-year-old, who is set to line-up for the Blues in tonight’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg at home to Arsenal, was brought to Portman Road by Keane last summer, signing from Cardiff City.

And Kennedy says he was sorry to hear the news of his former Ireland skipper’s Portman Road sacking.

“I’m bitterly disappointed to see the manager go. I’m a huge fan of his, both as a person and as a manager.

“In the short period I worked with him here, I certainly really enjoyed working with him and he had some fantastic attributes.

“I have no doubt whatsoever that he will be a successful manager, as he has been already. The game needs somebody like him. Hopefully, he’ll take a short break, I don’t know what he’s doing, but I hope to see him back in the game soon,” he said.