• Premier League

Wenger looking for one signing after Song departure

ESPN staff
August 18, 2012
Santi Cazorla looked good for Arsenal on Saturday - but Arsene Wenger still wants another midfielder © Getty Images
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he will look to sign a midfielder before the transfer window closes, after agreeing to sell Alex Song to Barcelona.

The Gunners announced on Saturday afternoon that they had reached agreement with the Spanish club over the transfer of Song, who will sign a five-year deal at Camp Nou over the next few days.

Song was left out of the matchday squad for Arsenal's opening 0-0 draw with Sunderland because of his impending move - but Wenger insisted after the game that he is happy with the midfield options still available to him.

However, he hinted that he might still look to add one more player to his ranks before the transfer window shuts.

"We have [Jack] Wilshere coming back now," Wenger said. "We have [Abou] Diaby back, we have [Tomas] Rosicky not far away and we might bring someone in."

Arsenal have been linked with the likes of Rennes defensive midfielder Yann M'Vila and Real Madrid's Nuri Sahin already this summer. Tottenham had also shown an interest in French international M'Vila, before manager Andre Villas-Boas announced that they would instead look to sign a more attack-minded midfield player.

Real have made Sahin available on loan, with Arsenal and Liverpool believed to be fighting for the former Borussia Dortmund star's signature.

Wenger hinted that an additional creative player might be his priority after watching a disjointed opening display against Sunderland, although he had praise for summer signing Santi Cazorla.

"Santi Cazorla played very well, he arrived just a week ago so [the overall poor performance] is not linked with new arrivals," Wenger said. "Some players changed position, and some were not completely fit. Playing three strikers didn't work today. We had no space, and the passing was not quick enough so it was difficult for them.

"Maybe we needed one more creative player. It's one game and it's too early to draw definitive conclusions because we faced a specific problem from a team who played very deep."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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