Wenger in no rush to strengthen

Wenger has been linked with a move for Arsenal’s former skipper Patrick Vieira

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he will not rush to spend the money raised from the sales of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.

Wenger has generated in the region of £40m from the transfers but has made only one summer signing so far, Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax for £10m.

“I feel we are strong enough but if we can add then we will do it,” Wenger told the club’s official website.

“In England, people think all problems can be sorted out by buying players.”

Arsenal have been linked with a host of players this summer but Wenger says the club are not “close to signing anyone at the moment”.

Defenders Brede Hangeland of Fulham and Newcastle’s Sebastien Bassong as well as strikers Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Real Madrid, Bordeaux’s Marouane Chamakh, have been linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium.

Former skipper Patrick Vieira, 33, is also rumoured to be on Wenger’s radar after falling out of favour at Inter Milan.

“We have money available so for us it is now (important) to spend it in the right way when we do it or if we do it,” added Wenger after Arsenal’s 1-0 friendly win over German side Hannover on Wednesday.

“The biggest target is to work hard in training, improve what we can improve and have confidence in the players that we have.”

606: DEBATE If Wenger fails to win anything this season then it will only be because of him selling our best players and not really replacing them Cesctastic

The lack of summer signings, the departures of defender Toure and striker Adebayor and the serious injury to Samir Nasri has put the spotlight on the club’s transfer policy.

The Gunners lost out in their bid to sign Felipe Melo from Fiorentina, with the Brazil midfielder opting to sign for Juventus instead.

Since moving to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, the Gunners boss has focused on nurturing young players rather than capturing experienced stars.

The likes of Mathieu Flamini, Gilberto Silva and Alexander Hleb have all left the club while Wenger has developed the talent of youngsters such as Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere.

But Arsenal are without a trophy since 2005 and finished a distant fourth in the Premier League last season, leading to a lively shareholders meeting back in May at which Wenger criticised the negativity of the Emirates crowd.