Wenger in the market for quality

Arsene Wenger is prepared to gamble on the right player this summer when he targets quality over quantity to strengthen Arsenal’s squad.

Wenger yesterday denied that Germany striker Lukas Podolski is close to joining the Gunners in an £11million deal having undergone a medical.

But the Arsenal boss admitted he is ready to scour the transfer market in his quest for high-quality additions to the squad.

“Quantity-wise we will not do a lot. Quality-wise certainly, and we will take a gamble if we find top, top quality of course,” he said.

“The number of the squad is 25. We have many players out on loan and we have not had Jack Wilshere or Abou Diaby for the whole season.

“These players will be back and that means number and quality wise we are strong because we are now in the position we are in without these players.”

Wenger shed little light on the timing of Podolski’s arrival and stressed he would like to avoid the final-day flurry of activity that marked Arsenal’s transfer business last summer.

“Nothing is done. It could happen soon, it could happen later, I don’t know,” he said.

“Last year was terrible for us because we finished on the 31st August at 11.55pm and we do not want to repeat that.”

Wenger spoke at length on Fabrice Muamba, Bolton’s former Arsenal striker who is making a remarkable recover from the cardiac arrest he suffered last Saturday.

Muamba was sold to Birmingham in 2007 after spending two seasons at the Emirates Stadium and Wenger insisted the 23-year-old midfielder always possessed a fighting spirit.

“Over the years we have stayed in touch with Fabrice. Against us, he was always very keen to prove that we made a mistake in letting him go.

“He was always outstanding against us and I hope he will do that again soon.

“Hopefully one day we will have the joy to see him on the football pitch again.’’

Arsenal are seeking their seventh successive Premier League win when they host Aston Villa today.

They supplanted Tottenham in third place with their 1-0 victory over Everton on Wednesday night and Wenger believes the battle for Champions League football is intensifying.

“Third is better than fourth, but if you have no choice, you take fourth and the opportunity. Let’s see how it goes now,” he said.

“I believe Newcastle are still in the fight, as are Tottenham and Chelsea. Liverpool are maybe too far off, but you never know.”