Arsenal Transfer News 2014: Arsene Wenger Not Making Any Moves
Arsene Wenger has revealed that he does not intend to add any players during the January transfer window.
Once attacked by fans for his inactivity during the transfer window, Wenger is getting a plethora of positive reviews for leading Arsenal to the top of the Premier League.
"It looks very unlikely," Wenger said, according to ESPN. "We are at the 23rd of January today and we are not close to doing anything.
"I feel a bit guilty going to a press conference during the transfer window and having no one to announce, but I don't want to lie," he added before noting that his depth will aid the team in its attempt to win a Premier League title for the first time since 2003-04. "We have [Alex Oxlade-] Chamberlain back, [Nicklas] Bendtner back, [Mikel] Arteta and [Aaron] Ramsey back next week. We have the needed squad. Overall, we have a very strong squad. If something exceptional turns up, we will do it."
Wenger's last big move was acquiring Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for 42.5 million pounds. Arsenal was reportedly interested in acquiring Schalke 04 star Julian Draxler, but Wenger's comments seem to indicate that there is little substance to the rumors.
Wenger did take time to question one major transfer taking place in the Premier League. The Arsenal manager felt that Chelsea's decision to sell Juan Mata to Manchester United was unfair as the two teams had already played one another twice this season and were no longer direct competition for one another.
"I am surprised," he stated. "Juan Mata is a great player and they sell a great player to a direct opponent. It opens again a little bit the opportunity of this transfer market because Chelsea has already played twice against Man United. They don't play against them anymore. They could have sold him last week [before United's 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge]."