Arsene Wenger refuses to rule out new signings for Arsenal before the transfer window closes

Arsene Wenger has said Arsenal remain open to signing further players in the summer transfer window but is confident that their existing squad can be competitive next season.

Petr Cech is the only signing made by the Gunners so far, with less than two weeks remaining before the start of the new campaign, which begins against West Ham United on 9 August.

Despite the lack of other marquee additions, the signing of the Czech Republic international from Premier League champions Chelsea is a significant coup for Arsenal and is expected to see them close the gap on Jose Mourinho's side.

But when asked about further signings before the end of the transfer window, Wenger, speaking ahead of the Community Shield meeting with Chelsea at Wembley on 2 August, said he was content with his current squad.

"I don't rule it out and I don't promise it," he told reporters. "As I said recently in the press conferences, if we can still strengthen, we will do it. But we have what is needed inside to be competitive, so let's first focus on that."

In an attempt to land a psychological blow before the season even begins, Mourinho has claimed that Arsenal spend far more than their frugal reputation in the transfer market indicates.

However, across the last three seasons since Mourinho returned to English football, Chelsea have spent £234.259m ($365.114m), while Arsenal's outlay is just £148.2m, according to the Press Association.

Without needing to consult the figures, Wenger dismissed Mourinho's criticism and advised sections of the media to ignore the Chelsea manager's attempts to stir relations between the pair.

"We spend when we think we have to spend and do not listen to what people think or say," he explained, upon Mourinho's comments being put to him.

"We just try to make the right decisions. When we have the money available, we spend it. When we don't have the money, we don't spend the money we haven't got. We have more desire to do well than the pressure. We want to do well and we enjoy playing together.

"I think what you want is not to listen too much to what people say, because sometimes in the same week I get two different reproaches: one I don't spend enough and one too much. I believe if you want to create success, which we want desperately, is to focus on inside and try to do as well as we can, believe in the football we want to play, play it as well as we can and let other people talk."