Arsene Wenger’s chequebook is open at last as Gunners react to horror start

Arsene Wenger looks ready to finally splash the cash as the Arsenal manager reacts to Sunday’s appalling 8-2 defeat to Manchester United.

The Gunners’ boss has already moved to bring in the South Korea captain Park Chu-young from his former club Monaco, and has bid �6m for Fenerbahce’s Brazilian left-back Andre Santos.

Those players could be joined by two more signings ahead of the window closing at 11pm on Wednesday night, as Wenger attempts to bolster his squad following the disastrous start to the Premier League campaign.

The Gunners are fourth from bottom of the fledgling table with just one point from three games, and Wenger finally looks ready to address the shortcomings in the squad following the sale of captain Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri for a combined �60m earlier this month.

Wenger will make an improved bid to Bolton for the central defender Gary Cahill, with the Trotters having rejected out of hand the �6m offer made last week.

And the Gunners are also in contact with Chelsea over the possible recruitment of the Israel international Yossi Benayoun, who is out of favour at Stamford Bridge under new boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Wenger is also monitoring another Chelsea player, the central defender Alex, and the France midfielder Florent Malouda, both of whom would cost in the region of �8m.

“I will try to strengthen the squad in depth because at the moment we are a bit short number-wise but if we get two or three players in we have the quality to challenge,” said Wenger after Arsenal’s worst result for 115 years.

“I am anxious yes because I want to do it and I try everything to do it. But I am confident as well because we have some good young players who can make a big step very quickly.”

But the Frecnhman admitted that deals were still in the balance with less than 48 hours to go until the transfer window closes.

““There is a chance [we could make no signings] because again we are dependent on the desire of the people who have the players to sell the players.”