'People are so focused on who is coming in they forget how good our players are': Wenger refuses to push the panic button



Arsene Wenger acknowledges Arsenal must strengthen in the closing days of the transfer window, but is refusing to buckle to pressure to sign players for the sake of it.

The Gunners responded from the 3-1 opening day loss to Aston Villa with a 3-0 defeat of Fenerbahce and a 3-1 win at Fulham which earned their first points of the Barclays Premier League season.

Arsenal supporters vented their frustration at Wenger following the loss to Villa, pointing at the lack of activity in the transfer market.

Acknowledgement: Arsene Wenger is aware his Arsenal squad needs strengthening before the window shuts

But the Frenchman, boss since October 1996, will not be rushed as Arsenal bid to secure their Champions League group place on Tuesday night in the return with the Turkish side at the Emirates Stadium.

'We are a bit short numbers-wise for the whole season, to go for all the competitions,' Wenger said.

'We have at the moment injured players, like (Alex Oxlade) Chamberlain, like (Mikel) Arteta.

'But we have as well not to panic and to make the right decision.

Missing: Arsenal midfielders Mikel Arteta (left) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both currently injured



'Under pressure, that's never easy. But we will do it.'

Although recognising he must add to his squad, Wenger also has faith in his existing group of players, which features a young core of British talent.

'During the transfer period people are so focused on who is coming in they forget how good our players are,' he said.

'If you look at our team (against Fulham) you had (Carl) Jenkinson gets the chance to start, (Theo) Walcott, (Aaron) Ramsey, (Jack) Wilshere, (Kieran) Gibbs.

Homegrown talent: Arsenal have a host of quality British players, including No 10 Jack Wilshere

'You (the media) should give us some credit for that sometimes.'

The goals came from Olivier Giroud, with his third of the season, and Lukas Podolski, who scored twice, but another crucial intervention was a double save from Wojciech Szczesny, who has been the subject of scrutiny in recent seasons.

'You have to trust your players,' Wenger said. 'The goalkeeper is 23 years old. It's his third season now in the Premier League. He's growing now.

'The young players you have to trust to give them confidence.'

Growing: Wojciech Szczesny is playing in his third Premier League season and has Wenger's backing

Meanwhile, Fulham manager Martin Jol saw enough to be encouraged by his side.

He praised the contributions of debutants Scott Parker and Darren Bent, who scored the Cottagers' consolation.

The Dutchman was also pleased his defence did not crumble under pressure from Arsenal.

Praise: Fulham boss Martin Jol was pleased with the contribution of new boys Scott Parker and Darren Bent

'If you look at the Man Uniteds and the Chelseas, the defenders are good enough to go one v one and that is what I try to instil here, to be good even when you have to chase a goal,' Jol added.

'We did okay. Normally when you play against an Arsenal side with that sort of pace up front you can easily go down and we didn't.

'We have to protect each other, but if you're one-nil down, two-nil down, you can't over protect yourselves at the back. That is impossible.

'You have to take the initiative and you need players going forward.'

Debut goal: Darren Bent came off the bench to score a consolation for Fulham against Arsenal

Jol was also pleased with the potential of his attacking unit, which includes enigmatic pair Dimitar Berbatov and Adel Taarabt.

'Taarabt knows that Berba is a top player,' Jol said. 'He looks at it that way. He knows he has to play for Berbatov as well.

'If he can find Berbatov in the future, I think we can expect a lot from both players.'

Taarabt was lively in the first hour of the game, but was substituted as Jol sought fresh impetus.

Jol, whose side play Burton Albion in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, added: 'What I saw and what I saw last week and what I've seen in training he's doing different things and we didn't see that before. I'm very happy that he's here.'