Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Gunners Boss Arsene Wenger Says January Signings Unlikely At The Emirates

Though Barclays Premier League squad Arsenal is usually active in both the summer and winter transfer periods, the Gunners and head coach Arsene Wenger have not spent big time bucks during the current January window even after early indications pointed to the English league leaders making a push for multiple players. Linked to Javier Hernandez of Manchester United and Julian Draxler of Schalke at the beginning of the winter window, Wenger and company appear content with the current roster moving forward. With only a week left in the signing period, the Emirates boss told reporters that he can’t see a scenario where his team adds depth heading into the final stretch of the 2013-2014 season unless the club is head over heels for one particular player.

“It looks very unlikely,” Wenger, who inked former Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil to a £42.5 million contract during the summer window, said recently. “We are at the 23rd of January today and we are not close to doing anything. I feel a bit guilty going to a press conference during the transfer window and having no one to announce, but I don’t want to lie. We have the needed squad. Overall, we have a very strong squad. If something exceptional turns up, we will do it. Having said that, not everyone will strengthen in this window. They will buy, but by buying it does not mean that will strengthen.”

While Arsenal may not make a big splash in the final days of the winter transfer window, the Gunners -- who currently hold a one point lead over Manchester City for the top spot in the BPL -- watched as English rival Manchester United acquired midfielder Juan Mata from Chelsea. When asked about the 37 million euro move sending the 25-year-old from Stamford Bridge to Old Trafford, Arsene Wenger didn’t hold back his negative feelings, referring to the transfer as an unfair transaction.

“Juan Mata is a great player and they sell a great player to a direct opponent,” Wenger said. “It opens again a little bit the opportunity of this transfer market because Chelsea has already played twice against Man United. They don’t play against them anymore. They could have sold him last week before United’s 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge. If you want to respect fairness, that should not happen. You would want that everyone is on the same level. Chelsea do not do the rules. Maybe the rules should be adapted to more fairness.”