• Manager admits he is in market for new central defender • Wenger could risk Laurent Koscielny for trip to Leicester

Arsène Wenger has reassured Arsenal supporters he is “working hard” to bring in new players before the end of the transfer window but admitted he will only enter the market if he is convinced they can add to his squad.

Wenger hinted he is prepared to gamble on the fitness of Laurent Koscielny after leaving the defender out of the 4–3 defeat by Liverpool last Sunday following his exertions for France at the European Championship finals. The new signing Rob Holding, 20, partnered 21-year-old Calum Chambers in the heart of Arsenal’s defence at the Emirates Stadium, a decision that was heavily criticised after they conceded three goals in just 14 minutes.

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Wenger has yet to make any progress on a potential move for Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi but admitted signing a new central defender has been his priority all summer.

“It was important before the game already. You do not sign players because you think it is important or not,” he said.

“I believe it is very difficult to identify people and find them. We have many examples in England of teams that spend a huge amount of money looking for central defenders. That is why everyone is in the market for the same players and very few players as well.”

Asked whether there was any update on Mustafi, the 24-year-old Germany international, Wenger added: “I believe it is better I don’t speak about any individual player. We are working very hard. You are absolutely convinced that I don’t want to spend the money, but I would like to reassure you that we are ready to spend the money we have. As always, not the money we haven’t got [because] it is not my money.

“Buying calms the fans down – it is important to spend but even more important to spend it the right way.”

Koscielny played in all seven of France’s matches at Euro 2016 and was given an extended holiday by Wenger to allow him time to recover before the start of the season. The Arsenal manager believes he is close to being ready to return to club duty but admitted injuries to his other senior defenders may force his hand.

“It is very difficult. The clubs always pay for the fact that the players played in these tournaments,” he said.

“What has changed in the Euros is that it lasts a month like the World Cup. As you have seen, the Euros finish on the 10th of July, and the Premier League starts on the 14th of August. So what can you do?

“You give the player a normal holiday, and they are not ready to start the championship, or you don’t give them the holiday and they are mentally and physically jaded. I gave him [Koscielny] holiday at the start, because I thought we would have Gabriel and Mertesacker. Unfortunately we lost the two, and on Sunday we were short of experience.”

With Aaron Ramsey expected to return after the international break from his hamstring injury, Wenger must also decide whether to risk playmaker Mesut Özil for Saturday’s trip to reigning Premier League champions Leicester. The Arsenal manager also revealed that the winger Serge Gnabry is expected to be offered a new contract after his performances helped Germany reach the final of the Olympic football tournament in Rio, although Wenger’s mind has been on events closer to home after Sunday’s defeat saw hundreds supporters leave the Emirates after Sadio Mané made it 4-1 in the 63rd minute.

“I can understand everything in a human reaction,” he said. “Of course it’s disappointment. They are disappointed and I am disappointed, but that’s part of our job today. In our society, people are more demanding. They are more intelligent, more well informed with stronger opinions, and that is what we have to deal with.

“It just means that when you have responsibilities today, you have to be even stronger, more determined and still be strong enough to do the things you feel are right. It’s more difficult but it still has the same importance to make the right decisions.”

Wenger added: “We are professional people and we have 55 games in a season. If, after one game, we cannot play any more football then we have nothing to do in our job. To have a successful season, you have to bounce back. It’s the way you respond to defeat.”