• Premier League

Arsenal aiming for marquee signing in January, says Wenger

Arsene Wenger defended Arsenal's injury record during the club's AGM © Getty Images

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Arsenal will try to land at least one key signing this January, manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.

Wenger admitted he tried and failed to bring in "one more" player this summer, but insisted he will enter the market again once the winter window opens in the New Year.

"We have done remarkably well in the transfer window," Wenger told Arsenal's AGM. "We tried to buy one more, a defender, but we didn't find one. But we will try to rectify that in January"

Wenger is now thought to be targeting a defensive midfielder, with Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho top of his shopping list.

Arsenal have previously been accused of failing to spend big money on transfer fees, despite recent outlays of £42.5 million and £32m for Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez respectively.

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis, however, insisted that the club would back Wenger in the transfer market if he moves to further strengthen the squad.

"It is simply not the case that we are hoarding a vast cash balance for some unspecified reason," Gazidis said. "We always have to keep cash in reserve to comply with debt calculations.

Most remaining cash after that is needed to run the club across the season, including player wages. We do try to keep a further amount of cash available for investment in the team. We try not to disclose that amount, because it would be uncompetitive."

Arsenal's squad has been hit by a string of injuries to key players, with the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Mathieu Debuchy and Olivier Giroud all suffering long-term problems in the opening weeks of the season.

Wenger however, defended his side's injury record, claiming that his international stars were suffering knocks as a result of post-World Cup fatigue.

"We have been hit hard by injuries again but, for me, they are post-World Cup injuries," he said. "Not soft-tissue injuries, accidental ones."

Wenger also denied reports that he is keen on taking over at former club Monaco, insisting he is "happy" at Arsenal.

The Ligue 1 club's vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has claimed that Monaco "keep a good relationship" with Wenger and that he has "strong affection for Monaco", who are interested in eventually bringing him back.

Wenger totally refuted the suggestion, saying: "Before we start I can tell you the story about Monaco that somebody brought out is completely untrue. I am happy here."

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