Wenger is not interested in Danny Welbeck

Published: 28 August, 2014
By TOM FOOT at EMIRATES STADIUM

UEFA Champions League, qualifying round, second leg
ARSENAL 1, BESIKTAS 0

ARSENE Wenger ruled out making bids for a string of strikers after watching his battling Gunners book a place in the Champions League for the 17th year in succession last night (Wednesday). 

Alexis Sanchez went some way to repaying his £32million price tag as he scored the only goal against Turkish side Besiktas on a nervy night at the Emirates. 

The bullish Sanchez was unleashed up front in place of the injured Olivier Giroud, who Wenger revealed “will be out for three to four months” after breaking his tibia during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Everton. 

When it comes to finding a replacement for the French forward, the Arsenal manager made it clear who his go-to guy was going to be. “Sanchez was mobile and dangerous and showed great fighting spirit,” he said. “I’m sure he can play his whole life as a centre-forward. I bought him as a striker, not to play on the flanks.” 

Mesut Ozil outwits two Besiktas opponents as Arsenal edge through

With just days left before the transfer window closes, Wenger has been linked with a number of players, including Birmingham’s Nikola Zigic, Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck and former Gunner Alex Song. But he quickly shot down every rumour, along with the one linking Arsenal with a move for Columbian striker Radamel Falcao. 

“He’s not in our price range,” he said. 

“If you want to make everyone happy, we would buy all of these players. But if you look at the players on our bench and those out injured, we have enough players. We cannot every time buy a player when one gets injured.”

On the pitch the Gunners were left reeling on the ropes after being reduced to 10 men on 75 minutes when Mathieu Debuchy was sent off. Replays showed it was a bad decision from referee Pedro Proenca, who dished out 10 yellow cards during the 90 minutes. 

The only goal of the game came on the stroke of half-time when Jack Wilshere opened up the Besiktas defence with a neat one-two with Mesut Ozil before setting up Sanchez, who scored his first goal in Arsenal colours.