Wenger rules out top Gunner departures

Arsene Wenger warned the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea not to expect easy pickings at Highbury this summer as he vowed to keep hold of Jose Antonio Reyes, Ashley Cole and Patrick Vieira.

Arsene Wenger warned the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea not to expect easy pickings at Highbury this summer as he vowed to keep hold of Jose Antonio Reyes, Ashley Cole and Patrick Vieira.

Wenger must still resolve the future of Dennis Bergkamp, who seems likely to earn a final one-year contract.

While he would like Edu to stay, he has resolved not to break the club’s wage structure to keep the Brazilian, who is out of contract at the end of this season, and Jeremie Aliadiere could also move.

That, however, is it, according to Wenger.

For despite the continued doubts over Reyes’ future, the Arsenal boss insisted the rest of his first-team squad will be staying put.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and chief executive Peter Kenyon allegedly held an illegal meeting with Cole at a London hotel, while the Blues are still searching for a new left-back.

Reyes, meanwhile, is a potential target for Real Madrid after admitting homesickness, while Vieira has been trailed by the Spanish club for the past few summers and almost moved there last year.

But when asked if any player, apart from Edu, would be likely to leave, Wenger insisted: “No. There’s a situation that is not sorted out with Bergkamp, we have to sit down and sort it out.

“But apart from Edu, who looks likely to move, everybody else should stay. At least, let’s say that I will try to keep everyone else on board.”

Wenger, whose side face Liverpool tomorrow at Highbury, added: “I am convinced that Reyes will stay, I will certainly try everything to keep him here.

“He is doing better and better in every game, and getting stronger and stronger. He is 21 and what he is doing is remarkable.”

As for new signings, Wenger admitted that although he has money to spend, he has not yet identified his ideal targets.

“I don’t need a left-back, I don’t need a midfielder and I don’t need a striker,” he said in the wake of Jose Mourinho’s declaration that he needed one of each.

“And I don’t need a goalkeeper either. I will only sign someone who can bring us a plus in the team. At the moment, I have not identified him but you will know once I have signed them.”

Wenger is still concerned not to restrict the chances for the younger players brought into the first team this season, such as Robin van Persie, Philippe Senderos and Cesc Fabregas.

“The decision I have to make is – can I now put someone in front of these players who have shown qualities in recent games? That is very difficult,” he said.

Senderos, Fabregas and van Persie all started last Monday’s victory at West Brom and will hope to be given another chance against Liverpool tomorrow.

Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg are still ruled out through injury, with the Frenchman given a ‘40-60’ chance of starting the FA Cup final.

That is a slight improvement from last week, but Wenger confirmed Henry would need to play against Birmingham next weekend to prove his fitness.

“I feel that anybody who wants to play in the FA Cup final would need to have played before that,” he revealed.

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