Wenger: I need to offload players
Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has said more players will be leaving the club before the end of the transfer window after admitting that his squad is too big.
Speaking after his side’s win on penalties over Chelsea in the Community Shield, Wenger warned too much competition for positions could be damaging for his players.
Wenger has already off-loaded goalkeepers Wojciech Szczesny and Emiliano Martinez this summer, as well as striker Yaya Sanogo.
“To be honest, the number is too high,” he said. “We will let some players go. Too much competition for places is detrimental, but not enough competition for places is detrimental as well.”
French striker Olivier Giroud has been linked with a move away from the Emirates, while there are also doubts over the future of midfielder Jack Wilshere, who spent last season on loan at Bournemouth.
Wenger praised his squad’s re- solve in battling back to defeat the Premier League champions, but said the challenge will be to keep that mentality throughout a long season. “I believe the quality of the game was very good,” he said. “Even when we were 1-0 down we did not panic and kept control of the game and came back.
“The problem for the managers is to maintain that spirit through the season, through the difficult periods, and maintain that togetherness as well.
“There will be some disappointments through the season, so it is important we focus on keeping together through every single game.”
The end of Arsenal’s campaign last season was sidetracked by unrest over Wenger’s future, which culminated in protests against both him and the club’s board.
“It is down to us to keep the positive atmosphere around the team,” Wenger said. “A lot was created by my own situation. Maybe I made a mistake, but overall it is down to us. The trend has to always come from the team.”