Pressure always there to sign a star, says Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits the pressure is on for him sign the next Lionel Messi rather than another promising player in the January transfer window.

The Gunners have been linked with a £10 million bid for Atletico Madrid striker Adrian Lopez, while Crystal Palace’s 21-year-old England international Wilfried Zaha and Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby are others allegedly on Wenger’s radar.

However, as he looks to bring in players who can make an instant impact, Wenger knows Arsenal fans’ patience is wearing thin when it comes to keeping faith in potential to deliver.

“It is very difficult because the level of expectation is very high — people want to see Lionel Messi come in, they don’t want to see a promising guy,” said Wenger, who takes his side to Swansea in the FA Cup third-round on Sunday.

“First of all the name gives hope. When a guy has no name people are already sceptical, so it’s much more difficult for us.”

Swansea look to have picked up a real bargain in Michu, signed by manager Michael Laudrup for just £2m from Rayo Vallecano, and the Spanish striker scored both goals in the 2-0 win at Arsenal on December 1.

Wenger admitted the 26-year-old had not been high on the shopping list of the Arsenal scouting network, which is now under more scrutiny than ever to unearth talent who can hit the ground running.

“Sometimes when you are on a big club your scouts are a bit more cautious because they think ‘Oh, it is Arsenal, it has to be a top-four player’, so naturally they are looking less at players who play at smaller clubs,” Wenger continued.

“You are always scared that he is a player who does not do well, the scouts are looked at as responsible. The competition is higher on the scouting front, that is for sure.

“The country where we were really, really competitive was France, but now they produce less players than they did 10 or 15 years ago at the top level.

“The emerging countries now to produce players look to be Germany and Spain, who have many good young players.”

Wenger feels signing Theo Walcott on a new contract would send a “positive message” that the future is bright at Arsenal.

The 23-year-old is out of contract in the summer but Wenger is confident the England international will commit long-term.

“It is a positive message for us to keep Theo, of course. Will it have an effect on the morale of the team? Yes, I am convinced it will have a positive effect if we manage to sign him,” Wenger said.

Arsenal are encouraged by the continuing negotiations, as they look to stop Walcott following former captain Robin van Persie out of the club at the end of the season.

Wenger added: “It is very difficult to be predictable in this kind of situation, but I always said that our desire is there to do it as quickly as possible. We are ready to do it.

“I only speak for our side, and my side is that we want him to stay here.’’