Arsene Wenger says he wants to sign “one or two top quality” signings this summer as he bids to strengthen the Arsenal squad.
The Gunners finished the season fifth, despite a final day win over Everton, but Wenger feels his side will bounce back from a disappointing campaign.
The Frenchman also admits he is keen to keep his current squad together amid speculation over the futures of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
“Yes, I think this group of players is good enough to come back. They have learned a lot and they have gone through difficult periods this season and they have bounced back in a very strong way,” he said via Arsenal‘s official website.
“I think that will help them, absolutely, next season. But first I think we have to keep 90 per cent of these players together and find one or two more who strengthen the group but we don’t need a lot. We don’t need many. But we need maybe top quality.”
Wenger also admitted he was sad to miss out on Champions League football for the first time in his career at Arsenal.
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“It’s very sad. For 20 years we were in it and it’s the first year that we will not be in it,” he added. “It’s very strange because for 75 points, we are only one point short.
“Of course you can look everywhere for where we dropped these points, but since January it’s been a very difficult environment for different reasons. Some you know about, and that’s very difficult for a group of players to cope with that.
“There are some other reasons that we will talk about another day. Psychologically, the environment for this group of players was absolutely horrendous and I’m very proud of what they have done, the way they responded and finished the season.”
Arsenal must now prepare for the FA Cup final ahead of some potentially crucial weeks for the club with Wenger’s future to be resolved and reports of changes to the backroom staff this summer which will both have a huge impact on transfers.
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