Wenger plays down financial power

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Harris claimed the funds are in place for Arsenal to sign any player in the world bar Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, adding there is “£200million in the bank”.

Wenger laughed off Harris’ comments at his pre-Emirates Cup press conference but did not deny the board member’s claim that Arsenal are chasing a new striker.

Asked whether the comments were helpful, Wenger said: “Helpful or not, it doesn’t matter. He has gone a bit overboard because that’s not true.

“We are in a situation – I explained many times – where we are working hard if an opportunity comes up to do something, but we are not in the need.

“Last week I had to answer ‘what will you do if all the players are available?’ This week ‘why don’t you buy?’

“Last week (in Singapore) we scored goals and we did not have Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck, who are coming back now. We’re in a position where we have a strong squad, but if an opportunity turns up we’ll still do something.”

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Benitez expects Benzema to stay at Real

Karim Benzema is among the high-profile strikers widely linked with Arsenal this summer, but the Real Madrid man’s agent said this week he will “1,000 per cent” stay at the Bernabeu.

Wenger said: “One thousand per cent is a lot! That looks quite convincing.”

Asked about other possible targets, he said: “I do not come out with names anyway. I believe we built something special last season. We want to work on that and not expect too much from outside.”