Arsenal chief won't be rushed into transfer action

10:32am Friday 21st November 2008

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ARSENE Wenger insists he will not be forced into making signings in the January transfer window despite seeing the side's injury crisis deepen with the news that Theo Walcott will be ruled out for three months.

The 19-year-old winger dislocated his shoulder in training for England ahead of their friendly match with Germany in Berlin in midweek, leaving the Gunners extremely short of wide players, with Emmanuel Eboue also out of action with a knee injury, while Tomas Rosicky remains a long-term absentee.

However, the Arsenal boss insists his priority is to bring the best out of his current crop of players in time for their visit to Manchester City this week, having seen them fall off the pace of leaders Chelsea and Liverpool with a 2-0 reverse at home to Aston Villa last week – the team's fourth defeat of the season.

“First, I want this team to perform to the maximum of their potential,” Wenger said. “I don't want to give them excuses at the moment, to think, ‘OK, we can go on like that, and, in January ...'

“We want to perform on Saturday and bounce back and show that we have humility and desire.”