Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: Petr Cech, Isco and Loic Perrin 'not joining' Gunners

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out signing Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and Real Madrid midfielder Isco, while admitting a deal for centre-back Loic Perrin from Saint Etienne is not close to completion.

The Gunners have naturally been linked with a host of players during the first full week of the January transfer window, though Wenger's priority is expected to be adding a defender to his squad.

Recent reports have suggested Arsenal are interested in bringing both Cech and Isco to the club but Wenger has ruled out the signings, while stating Perrin is not close to signing for the club.

"No, we are not on the case [to sign Isco]," said Wenger. "We have plenty of creative players. We are more short on the defensive side of our game, not on the offensive side.

"We have plenty of offensive players. We just spoke about Podolski who just went out, we spoke about [Yaya] Sanogo going out because we have so many offensive players that they don't get a chance to play. So we won't buy someone else in the attack.

Wenger continued: "No, Petr Cech is at Chelsea. We have three goalkeepers who, for me, are top class and there is a big competition going on. I have no doubt we have the needed quality.

"He [Perrin] is a young boy that we follow, yes," he added. "You see I gave you some information! We are not very close at the moment [to an agreement]."

With Mathieu Debuchy and Laurent Koscielny having spent lengthy spells out injured, Wenger has been forced to operate with wafer-thin defensive resources this season, with only six senior defenders available to him.

The Arsenal boss continues to come under pressure from supporters over the club's transfer policy and his every move will again be scrutinised as the fanbase looks for further evidence of the team's progression.