Wenger coy on possible signings

The Gunners may well be on the look-out for some attacking cover following a cruciate knee ligament injury which has ruled England forward Theo Walcott out for the rest of the season, and the World Cup, but Wenger has moved to play down suggestions a loan deal was in the pipeline for Real Madrid starlet Alvaro Morata. Arsenal have also been linked with Fulham veteran Dimitar Berbatov, as well as a big-money transfer for Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa.

Wenger continues to stress all the headlines will not help the eleven he sends out at Villa Park on Monday night, by which time rivals Chelsea and Manchester City could have gone above Arsenal.

“I do not want to speak about any specific names. For us it is important to prepare well and to win the game on Monday night,” said Wenger.

“The people who are in the newspapers do not help us to win the game on Monday night. It is the players who play here.

“Nothing has changed because we are open to a possible solution and if something interesting turns up we will do it.

“It could be a loan as well yes, but we are not in talks with Real about anybody.”

Wenger happily admits he could do without the madness of the mid-season transfer window altogether.

“The transfer market is a distraction that for me is not welcome,” he said.

“I think it would be much better that there is no transfer market at all in January and the team starts and finishes with the same players would be fair unless you have big injuries.

“For the rest, what is important is that we focus on the quality of our performances because it’s a period that is very sensitive at the moment and every game is now a massive game.”

Wenger is confident Walcott can make a full recovery, but ruled out any hopes of a ‘miracle cure’ in time to save his 2014 World Cup dream.

“We have enough experience on cruciate (ligament injuries) to know that the minimum time is six months to come back.” Wenger added: “We know deep studies show that the players around 25 with that kind of injury, they come back as normal.”

On a positive note, midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made his own return from a serious knee injury when he played the first half of the Under-21s fixture against Fulham on Thursday night.

The 20-year-old could be back on the bench at Villa Park facing the team against which he suffered the injury on the opening day of the Premier League season.

“What is the most important thing is that he played and came through well, then we will see how he is. But he’s been out for five months, it takes some time to play in the Premier League,” said Wenger. “It is good to have him back, but he and Walcott are different types of players.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, meanwhile, will take things steady as he aims for a successful end to the season.

“It was the first match I’ve played in five months, so it was more about getting the minutes under my belt and getting used to being back on a pitch,” Oxlade-Chamberlain told Arsenal Player.

“On the ball I know I can do a lot better than that, but it takes a few weeks, maybe even a month, to get back to your full sharpness.

“Obviously I wasn’t at my full fitness and it was quite hard, but the main thing was that I got through it and that is a positive. It is just really good to be back.”

Arsenal expect to have forward Olivier Giroud back while midfielder Aaron Ramsey (thigh) and defender Kieran Gibbs (calf) are also closing in on a return. Captain Thomas Vermaelen (knee) is doubtful, while forward Nicklas Bendtner (ankle), Yaya Sanogo (back) and Abou Diaby (knee) continue their rehabilitation.