All eyes were on Arsene Wenger and Arsenal at the North London side's training ground on Friday, as Arsenal prepare to take on Aston Villa in their first Premier League match of the season.
With Arsenal's transfer window being what some have labeled a complete failure to date, many questions aimed at Wenger surrounded the club's transfer activity, or lack thereof.
"We are active," he told Arsenal's official site. "We are in a situation like Manchester United, like Chelsea, where everybody expects signings and at the moment not a lot has happened.
"There are 18 days to go, so that is a long time in the transfer market and we will be active.
"I cannot certify what the number [of players coming in will be] but we will be active until the end, that is for sure."
While Arsenal have taken much of the stick this summer, Wenger did make a good point with his reference to Manchester United and their difficult summer as well. David Moyes has only successfully brought in one player with failed attempts at signing Kevin Strootman, Cesc Fabregas, and Thiago Alcantara.
Chelsea, meanwhile, started the transfer window strong, announcing the signings of Marco Van Ginkel and Andre Schurrle, but Mourinho has failed to bring in his big target, Wayne Rooney from Manchester United. The fact that Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, and Michael Essien have all returned from loans has made Mourinho's summer slightly more interesting, however.
Wenger continued speaking about the transfer market, citing that this year's window in particular has been a bit of a worry.
“The transfer market is a worry nowadays and it has always been basically. With every transfer market you could write a book, and a very interesting one. So it is a worry, I don't deny that.
“It is maybe more difficult nowadays because there are more quality spenders on the market, especially in France. They have come on the market as well and bought at a very high level, so it is difficult."
The emergence of wealth in France has resulted in ever more purchasing power for other non-traditional spenders like Napoli. Despite nearly agreeing terms with Gonzalo Higuain, the Argentine striker opted to sign for Napoli after Edinson Cavani left Italy for Paris St-Germain. The transfer of Cavani enabled the Italians to compete for Higuain's signature.
Today, another Arsenal target, Luiz Gustavo, snubbed the Gunners in favor of German Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg. While it is understandable that the Brazilian international would possibly want to continue his career in a country he is already familiar with, he effectively passed on Champions League football with the Gunners, something that must raise some alarms for Wenger and his men.
What do you make of Arsene Wenger's comments? Do you think Arsenal will bring a player or two in before the window closes in September? Who would you like to see brought in that is still available on the market?
