Wenger: Russians should have kept our bid for Arshavin a secret

Credit crunch: Arsene Wenger thinks that there won't be a lot of money spent in January
James Olley13 April 2012

Arsene Wenger is unhappy Zenit St Petersburg have gone public over Arsenal's pursuit of Andrei Arshavin.

The Russian club revealed earlier this week that negotiations were under way to bring the 27yearold forward to north London.

But Wenger, whose side face Bolton at Emirates Stadium tomorrow, said: "The situation from Arsenal's perspective is to keep everything quiet and secret and not to talk too much. I think tactically the selling club are always more interested to get things public than the buying club. I cannot confirm or deny anything.

"In December everybody becomes absolutely agitated and thinks on 1 January players will move from everywhere. At the moment we see what we see every year, a very quiet transfer market. There is not a lot of money. If you look at the financial situation of the English clubs you will understand very quickly why most of them are quiet."

The Gunners boss also rejected rumours linking Kolo Toure with Manchester City and insisted there will be no departures this month.

He said: "It is true we have had enquiries. But nobody will go and at the moment we have not bought anybody so that's quite simple. Sorry to disappoint you."

William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre are unavailable through injury but Wenger dismissed suggestions his side were facing a defensive crisis on the eve of their first League game of 2009.

"Gallas is out for three to four weeks and Silvestre for two to three weeks but we have four defenders tomorrow of quality," said the Frenchman, who will have Toure and Gael Clichy fit again.

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