Emery delighted with squad, but keeps options open

– Arsenal could add to their squad before the Premier League season starts but only if an exceptional player becomes available, manager Unai Emery (right) said this week as he declared himself happy with the club’s transfer business.

Arsenal continued their busy close season activity by signing midfielder Matteo Guendouzi from French Ligue 2 side Lorient for an undisclosed fee in midweek.

France youth international Guendouzi is Emery’s fifth signing and follows Switzerland fullback Stephan Lichtsteiner, Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, German keeper Bernd Leno and Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira.

“Normally in my career, the big clubs don’t close the door or the moment to sign a new player,” Emery told a news conference ahead of their first pre-season game this weekend.

“Today, we are OK. Maybe we can bring in one if there’s a very good possibility for them to help us, but the club has done a great job of signing new players.”

Arsenal finished a disappointing sixth last season and missed out on a Champions League qualifying spot, with manager Arsene Wenger leaving after almost 22 years at the club.

They face a tough Premier League opener against champions Manchester City on August 12 with Emery, who left French champions Paris St Germain at the end of last season, trying to build a team that can compete for a top-four finish.

“We signed the players we needed and only if one player is a big opportunity for us will we sign him,” he added.

“Normally, we are thinking about the young players, the possibility of them staying with us or going on loan. We are also thinking about the players who were with us last year and whether we need them to stay,

“We will only sign another player if there is an opportunity to bring in that one player, or two players.”

Emery also said he wanted five captains after German skipper Per Mertesacker gave up the armband when he retired at the end of last season. Laurent Koscielny is the Arsenal vice-captain but the Frenchman is recovering from a long-term injury.

“My first idea is to have five captains in the team. But at the moment, I don’t know the names. I need to know more and also, firstly, Koscielny is the first captain now and for me, I have respect for that,” the Spaniard said. –