Source: Eurosport
Wenger: No need for recruitment drive
Arsene Wenger maintains there is no reason for Arsenal to be panicked into buying new players - and has told his squad to focus on their own performance rather than worry about who may be joining the club in the summer.
As Arsenal face up to another trophyless campaign - their last being the FA Cup in 2005 - there have been calls for Wenger to invest in some fresh talent to complement the potential of his youngsters or face being left behind.
But the Frenchman said: "If you look at our team on Tuesday night, our oldest player in midfield was 22. They are in the best four in Europe, so why should we panic?"
He added: "I believe we have to take the critics on the chin, but at the end of the day, it is down to how strongly we believe in ourselves and how good I think the team is.
"We live in a world where everyone can have opinions, but it is people in a position of responsibility who make decisions. There is a big difference, because people who make decisions have responsibilities for the longer-term of the club, for the survival of the club and for the financial resources of the club."
Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia accepts that maybe "now is the time" for experience to be added, while Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor feels both the team and himself have "gone backwards" this season.
However, Wenger - boosted by the news England forward Theo Walcott signed a new long-term deal on Friday - remains committed to his own philosophy of developing a side capable of beating the best once again.
"I believe that you have to take a distance with the statements of the players. They are not managers or coaches," Wenger said. "They are responsible for their own performance on the pitch and not for general assessment of the team.
"You go to Chelsea, to Manchester United and you ask them if they feel they need to sign players, you will get everywhere a positive response.
Yet if you ask the players in what position, you will never get their position.
"Every player wants to play with big names because it is reassuring."
