Wenger Slams Transfer Gossips

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists he does not have to justify his club's transfer business to anyone.

Wenger was reacting to criticism from Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, who claimed he dropped midfielder Yohan Cabaye for the 4-0 thrashing at Manchester City, because Arsenal had unsettled the player by making a bid for him on the eve of the game.
But the Gunners boss, who has found himself under increasing pressure from both media and fans because he has not acquired any of his transfer targets this summer, was in no mood to take any flack over Cabaye.
"There is nothing to explain," Wenger said. "First of all, you don't know what we have done, you don't know if we did bid and you have come to a conclusion without knowing everything that has happened.

Wenger defends Cabaye bid

"It is quite amazing that all of the people don't know and yet they always have opinions about things they don't know.
"I won't explain to you what happened. It is not down to me to explain to you everything I do. It is impossible.
"If we do a transfer, we will announce it. We always inform you. As for the rest, you have to leave us to do our own things.
"We don't want to hurt anybody, not Newcastle, not anybody. You can't reproach us on one side for not buying and yet on the other side when we try to buy to reproach us as well. That is a bit contradictory.
"I would just like to reiterate to you that in the last 16 years we have been very successful with transfers - if you look at the players who play tomorrow, they are top quality players, and you should never forget that."
Wenger added: "It is not always to think what is outside is better than what you have. What is important as well is to rate what you have and our fans have to understand that as well.

"We don't want to hurt anybody, not Newcastle, not anybody. You can't reproach us on one side for not buying and yet on the other side when we try to buy to reproach us as well."

Arsene Wenger

"What is important is to go out and see a good football game. All that other stuff is good for the newspapers, but it is not real football."
Speaking ahead of the Arsenal's match tonight, Wenger admits the tie presents a test of character but he is confident his men can overcome.