I'm not a liar: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger fumes over Danny Welbeck injury claims

Arsene Wenger is hopeful Danny Welbeck will be back in Christmas

ARSENE WENGER was in combative mood as he dismissed claims of lying and strongly defended his transfer policy against critics.

 

The Arsenal boss let his feelings be known after criticism following the failure to sign an outfield player during the summer – Petr Cech was the only addition to the squad which finished 12 points behind Premier League champions Chelsea.

Unrest among Arsenal fans then grew after news of Danny Welbeck’s knee surgery just days after the transfer window closed.

However Wenger was adamant he did not mislead supporters over the England striker’s injury and made clear an “efficient solution” was not available.

“Whether we have players injured or not doesn’t change the problem, that's what I don’t understand from the media,” he said. 

“First of all I am surprised that people accused me of lying when I was in the press conference on Friday morning, I did not know Welbeck had a bad set back. I did not lie to you, I gave you the information I had.

 

“I heard late on Friday night that his condition had not evolved as well as we thought it was and he had needed further investigation. Apart from that, if we did not find someone [to sign], we did not find them.

“We were ready to do something, but you have to be convinced that it’s not just to please people, that it’s an efficient solution. And the efficient solution didn’t turn up. As well you have to be brave enough to say ‘no’.”

Arsenal were the only club in Europe’s major leagues not to sign an outfield player but Wenger said he wasn’t going to buy players just to give supporters “hope”. 

“I have made more than 300 transfers and every time it’s a decision to make,” the Gunners boss said.

 

“Do you buy the player because he strengthens his squad or not? The solutions we had were not convincing at all. 

“In the end you do not buy to give one hope, you want to buy because the players who come in can help your squad to be stronger. Buying and selling is one way to strengthen your team but that’s not the only way.” 

Wenger confirmed Welbeck would be out until Christmas, not the six months claimed by England manager Roy Hodgson.

Which leaves Olivier Giroud as the main striker with Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott capable of also fulfilling the role.

Arsenal have scored just three goals this season – two of them own goals – but Wenger is confident his strikeforce can rediscover their form in front of goal.

He said: “We have Alexis, we have Giroud and we have Walcott.

“It is always a similar problem - when you have many strikers people say how do you keep them all happy?

“It is about the efficiency and quality of our game, we can score goals I am not worried about that.”

Per Mertesacker will return to the squad for Saturday’s fixture against Stoke after illness while Laurent Koscielny is also fit after missing France’s 2-1 over Serbia on Monday with a back problem.

Jack Wilshere misses the game after suffering a setback in his recovery for a hairline fracture in his left ankle.