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Arsenal's coach Arsene Wenger on the sideline last night. AP/Press Association Images
Forward Planning

Wenger: Arsenal 'no chance' of signing Suarez

The transfer window ‘starts now’ for the Gunners chief, he says.

ARSENAL MANAGER Arsene Wenger admits his team have ‘no chance’ of signing want-away Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

But the Frenchman, whose team beat Fenerbahce 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off last night, promised ‘a lot’ of transfer activity from his team before the window closes on 2 September.

Liverpool have rejected two bids from Arsenal for Suarez, who has reportedly said sorry to manager Brendan Rodgers and resumed training with the first team.

Asked if a deal for Suarez was dead, Wenger said: “Yes. Absolutely no chance of that.”

Wenger has been criticised for only adding 20-year-old Yaya Sanogo to his squad in the off-season and the striker’s move from Auxerre was a free transfer.

While he is confident his team have enough quality, Wenger said there would be additions as he looks to bolster his squad.

“Quality-wise we don’t need (players) but number-wise we are short,” the French manager said.

“I told you yesterday we lost (Alex-Oxlade) Chamberlain and (Mikel) Arteta and (Abou) Diaby is out; that’s three international midfielders and that is why we are short.

“We try to bring one in but we are working on that. You have to understand there is still a long way to go, the transfer market really starts now and a lot of activity will happen from now until September 2.

“21 August until 2 September, you have 12 days. A lot will happen. It starts now.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been ruled out for three months with a knee injury, Arteta (quad) is out for ‘up to six weeks’ and Diaby (knee) is also a long-term absentee. Adding to that trio, defender Laurent Koscielny was rushed to hospital on Wednesday, after being kicked in the face by Fenerbahce striker Pierre Webo.

“Laurent Koscielny has opened very deeply the skull and we had to take him to hospital,” Wenger said.

“I was not happy with the kick because I feel he could have eased a bit off but only the player will know what he did.

“We are concerned because we had to send him to hospital that he has not broken a bone and we are waiting for him to come back now.”

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