Arsene Wenger: Arsenal "working round the clock" to sign new players

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed the Gunners are working round the clock to make new additions to the squad before the end of the transfer window after admitting they "have not had the ideal start" to the campaign. The Frenchman suggested the club had already identified "specific targets" to bolster the current squad but added they were "not close to signing anybody".

Even though the north London side started the season with a victory over Chelsea in the Community Shield, the Gunners have only secured four points from their first three Premier League games of the campaign. The club managed to respond to the home disappointment in the opening defeat against West Ham with victory against Crystal Palace but on Monday 24 August were held by Liverpool to a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Having failed to score a goal in five of their last six Premier League home games, Wenger admitted after the game against the Merseysiders that Arsenal lacked sharpness in the final-third. Many have since urged the manager to bolster his attack with a new striker before the end of the transfer window if Arsenal really wanted to compete with Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and the Reds for the Premier League title.

The Gunners have indeed being linked with a number of number of forwards in recent weeks, including Paris Saint Germain star Edinson Cavani and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. Wenger has however refused to name the club target but admitted the club was working to make new additions before the transfer window closed.

"I cannot say I am very confident because we are not close to signing anybody at the moment but the transfer market is always moving in the last five days. We work very hard. We have a team that works day and night to find good solutions. At the moment we are not close," Wenger said during the press conference ahead of the visit to Newcastle on Saturday 29 August.

"You have specific targets but, as well, you get an idea that you didn't know the player you like was available and if you get the opportunity you do it."

The manager, nevertheless, admits his frustration over the slow start to the campaign while claiming "some players are not completely there yet".

"We've not had the ideal start. We've played three games, we want to play 60 and we've lost a game we shouldn't have. I said we wanted to start strong because we had two derbies and Liverpool at home. It's normal after two or three games that you're not at 100 per cent."

"Some players are not completely there yet."