Arsene Wenger Worried by Arsenal's Lack of Transfer Activity

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has expressed concern over the club's inability to strengthen during the summer transfer window and admits The Gunners begin the season short of playing resources.

The north Londoners have added just one player in French forward Yaya Sanogo during the off-season despite chief executive Ivan Gazidis claiming the club have money to spend in the window.

Two bids for Liverpool forward Luis Suarez have been rejected and with a host of players having departed the Emirates in the summer, including Gervinho and Andrey Arshavin, Wenger has bemoaed the depleted nature of his squad on the eve of the start of the new Premier League season.

"I don't disagree that we are a bit light but there are 18 days to go in the transfer window," the Arsenal boss said.

"We are of course looking to strengthen our squad. I don't want to come out under any specific names because that wouldn't be right. Usually you will be informed.

"Ideally you would want to be quicker but to finalise any transfer you need the agreement of both parties.

"Our main rivals as well have found it not easy. Us, Chelsea and Man United have found it difficult to find the quality players to benefit the squad.

"It's difficult to give a number but we look for quality rather than numbers, we need the quality. We'd like two or three players and if possible more but we will not compromise on the quality of the players."

While David Moyes has also struggled to sign new players following his appointment at Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City - all of whom are expected to challenge Arsenal for a Champions League place - have made waves of new additions.

After finishing just a point ahead of fifth place Tottenham last season, Wenger's failure to add to his squad makes the task of continuing the club's run of qualifying for the Champions League all the more difficult, not least ending the club's eight-year wait for a major trophy.

And while the Frenchman sympathises with Arsenal fans, he insists there will be no last minute trolley dash similar to the summer of 2011 where five new players were signed in the twilight of the window.

"I understand every frustration but what is important is the quality of what you do on the football pitch and lets not create a crisis," he added. "Let's not convince everyone that the quality of the team is down. I am optimistic of course.

"First of all they (Chelsea and Liverpool) have brought players we do not need.

"Our situation is complete difficult (to two years ago) and we lost two or three of the players in one game and we had no other option than to buy. The transfer market is a different world nowadays and you could write a book on it.

"It is a worry no doubt about that. There is more quality spenders on the market. Especially France who have brought at a very high level and it's very difficult."

Wenger's troubles in the window have been exacerbated by a number of injuires ahead of the opener against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta, Nacho Monreal and Thomas Vermaelen are all out while Per Mertesacker will captain the side. Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott will both feature despite fitness concerns following the mid-week friendly internationals