Source: Team_Talk
Wenger knows balance is the key
The Gunners, who will have to get past Scottish side Celtic to reach the lucrative group stages of the Champions League once again, finish their pre-season campaign at Valencia on Saturday night.
The trip to Spain will offer Wenger another chance to tinker with his starting XI ahead of the trip to Everton on the opening day of the new Premier League campaign.
England forward Theo Walcott will be considered again, having been given some extra time off following busy summer of international football, while 17-year-old Jack Wilshere impressed at the Emirates Cup.
With Samir Nasri set the miss the start of the campaign because of a broken leg suffered while at the Gunners' training camp in Austria, pre-season has been something of a delicate balancing act for Wenger as he looks for the right blend between defence and such a natural attacking force.
Although centre-half Thomas Vermaelen, signed in a £10million deal from Ajax, could make an appearance tomorrow, Czech winger Tomas Rosicky faces another frustrating spell in the treatment room having picked up a hamstring problem after just returning from 18 months on the sidelines.
It all leaves the Gunners boss, who may yet add to his squad before next week's kick-off, with plenty of selection posers.
"We have many offensive players, and maybe we have to tighten up a bit in midfield to keep a balance between defence and attack," he said.
"I wanted to see how it worked in the preparation games, and I have been quite happy with it."
The Arsenal manager added: "You need a certain amount of pace and power in your team, and that is not necessarily linked with size.
"It is more a question of the balance in your team."
Wenger yesterday admitted he was still in the market for "one or two" players, most likely in midfield and at the back.
Moves for former captain Patrick Vieira and Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh appear to have be put on the back burner, while St Etienne have insisted midfielder Blaise Matuidi is simply not for sale.
"The fee asked (for Chamakh) is too high and we have to respect Bordeaux's decision," Wenger said in L'Equipe. "The player is under contract, so Bordeaux are making the decision. They can ask whatever fee they want.
"Will I abandon that trail? I don't know. I will give myself a few days to think about it.
"He is an excellent player that works for his team and makes the other players good. They are the kind of qualities that we like."
