Arsenal: Gunners legend Thierry Henry backs Arsene Wenger over summer transfer window failings

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has defended Arsene Wenger after the Gunners' manager came under criticism for failing to sign a single outfield player during the summer transfer window which shut on Tuesday, 1 September, at 6pm. The French manager made just one signing, which saw Petr Cech arrive from Chelsea.

Wenger had been urged to bring in a centre-forward. The north London club were linked with a move for Karim Benzema the entire summer. Spanish publication El Confidencial suggested that contact had been made, but the French striker himself quashed all talk of a move by committing his future to the Spanish club.

The 65-year-old manager had admitted that the club were working on bringing in players, but did not guarantee if they would come to fruition before the end of the window. Henry believes that Wenger did try to sign players on his radar, but insists that the selling club plays an important role in completing transfers.

Arsenal were linked with deadline day moves for Paris Saint-Germain duo Adrien Rabiot and Edinson Cavani, according to the Daily Mail. But the French club refused to let the striker leave with Arsenal reportedly unwilling to meet their £50m ($76.5m) price tag, according to the Mirror.

"I don't know if the boss wanted Benzema, but the player needs to want to come also," Henry told Sky Sports News, as quoted by the London Evening Standard. "What are you going to offer to the guy that's going [make him] leave one of the best teams in the world?"

He added: "It would be another story if [Arsene Wenger] didn't want to bring [players to Arsenal]. He said if they can be done then I will try and bring someone. How do you get Benzema from Real Madrid when he plays there? And Cavani also, he scored at the weekend again. I don't think he didn't want to bring anyone, but it didn't happen."