Arsene Wenger is reportedly determined to 'stick
to his principles' and will resist calls to make significant
additions to his current squad at Arsenal in the summer despite
their recent collapse.
According to The Times, Wenger is 'adamant that his young
players have the talent and the temperament to win leading trophies
and will give many of them the chance to do so next season.'
Despite being offered a £35m transfer budget by the club's board,
Wenger is set to only make a few tweaks to his squad and will
stubbornly resist the temptation to make a 'big-name signing.'
Although Wenger has reportedly acknowledged the need to sign an
'an experienced defender' - possibly at the expense of either
Philippe Senderos or Johan Djourou - The Times says that 'he is
likely to focus his efforts on securing the best of the upcoming
generation, with Hatem Ben Arfa, the 20-year-old Lyons winger, a
top target.'
The general inexperience of the current Arsenal squad has been
cited as a salient factor in their Premiership decline and exit
from the Champions League. With an average age of around 23, it is
the youngest of the Big Four. However, with its two elder
statesmen, Gilberto Silva and Jens Lehmann, both bound to depart in
the summer, the probability is that Arsenal's squad will be even
more youthful next season. Having already insisted that he plans to
give more games to the likes of Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner
in 2008/09, Wenger is also understood to be planning to solve the
Gunners' obvious deficiency on the flanks by recalling Carlos Vela
and Fran Merida from their current loan spells in Spain.
