Arsene Wenger Insists Mario Balotelli Has Never Been a Target for Arsenal

Arsene Wenger has brought an end to speculation suggesting Mario Balotelli will join Arsenal this summer, insisting the club have never been interested in the striker.

Given the Gunners' need for added depth in the striking department and AC Milan's dismal domestic campaign last season, speculation linking the Italy international with a move to the Emirates has been rife.

Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola, has fuelled speculation of a prospective return to the Premier League but while the Arsenal boss is open to more incoming transfers this summer, the former Manchester City star will not be part of those plans.

"For weeks, we were buying Balotelli from one minute to the other and it was all wrong. We were never in for him," Wenger told a press conference ahead of the Emirates Cup, Football Italia reported.

"We do not master the noises that come out."

With a month of the transfer window remaining, Wenger has added four new names to the side that finished fourth in the Premier League last season.

Part of his summer recruitment drive was Calum Chambers, who has followed in the footsteps of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in making the move to north London after progressing through Southampton's youth ranks.

Wenger noted the addition of the 19-year-old full-back is part of his plans to equip his side with a strong English spine, for the benefit of the club and for the national team.

"He [Chambers] was a long-term goal," said Wenger. "I like the player and the quality he has, he is a young prospect as well.

"He is English and I hope in the future we have a core of the English national team because what we have learned over the past two World Cups is that Spain won it with six players from Barcelona, this time Germany won it with six players from Bayern Munich – I hope England win it with six players from Arsenal."