"He's qualified for the Champions League for 16 years so I think he's the right man for the job."
Supporters are directing their ire at Wenger over his failure to spend any money in the transfer window.
It certainly has not been for the want of trying, with the club making record-breaking but unsuccessful offers for Luis Suárez and Gonzalo Higuain. Wenger, whose side face Fulham in the Premier League in today's lunchtime kick-off, insisted he would not brood were he to lose out again to a rival suitor before the window closes on Sept 2. "You've certainly tried to go out with a girl and find she has chosen someone else," he said. "You don't commit suicide."
Arsenal have already demonstrated there are plenty more fish in the sea by transferring their affections to Real Madrid duo Karim Benzema and Ángel Di María as part of an £80?million spree.
Wenger all but admitted both players would have been out of his league but for Wednesday night's 3-0 win at Fenerbahce that all but secured a 16th successive season in the Champions League. "The Champions League is, of course, the needed requirement for the top players," he said. "The players say, 'OK, we want to join Arsenal. We want to play the kind of football you play. But as well, we want to play in the Champions League'. It's unfortunately like that."
Qualification could also help them seduce targets Yohan Cabaye, of Newcastle, Juventus's Paul Pogba, Micah Richards, of Manchester City and Valencia's Vicente Guaita.
Arsenal already appear to have won over an old flame in Mathieu Flamini, who is unattached and training with his former club.
The out-of-favour Lukas Podolski may complete a loan move to Schalke. However, it would also leave Wenger's squad even more threadbare until he finds a replacement.
He said: "Number-wise, we are not strong enough to cope with all the [trophy] targets a club like us has."
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