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Camden New Journal - by STEVE BARNETT
Published: 24 July 2008

Back trouble? Wenger looks for a midfielder

Defender not top priority for Gunners

ARSENE Wenger looks set to ignore pleas from fans to buy a defender and opt instead to bolster his midfield ahead of the new campaign.
Supporters are still hoping that the Frenchman will address the defensive frailties that saw the Gunners leak a series of soft goals last season, and ultimately cost them any chance of winning silverware.
Wenger revealed after the 2-1 win over Barnet on Saturday that he will be bringing in one more player before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
After Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Hungarian side Szombathelyi Haladas, Wenger confirmed that the player he is looking for is a midfielder.
When asked about his midfield after the game, Wenger said: “We will need one more body in there. At the moment we do not have Alex Song, who is going to the Olympics, while Abou Diaby was not here tonight and nor was Cesc Fabregas.
“If we find a reasonable target then we will do it.”
All of Arsenal’s transfers so far this summer have come in midfield, with Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb and Gilberto all exiting the Emirates, while Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey arrived from Marseille and Cardiff City.
The news will frustrate Arsenal fans who feel that the team’s problems stem from the back, especially after central defender Kolo Toure was rated doubtful for the start of the season after contracting malaria.
Meanwhile, fans will be delighted by the news that Eduardo will be back for the start of August following the injury to his ankle in February.
Although the striker is still some way away from first-team action, he is set to watch his team-mates take on Juventus and Real Madrid in the Emirates Cup, which kicks off next Saturday.
The Croatian, who has been undertaking his rehabilitation in Brazil, will be assessed during his visit, where he will find out how long he has to wait before he can start training again with the first team.

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Don't laugh but the Gunners should sign Landon Donavon. I am not joking.
Dustin Johnson