Wenger keen to keep cards close to his chest as Gunners prepare for Champions League clash

MAKE or break. That is what Arsenal's season is all about tonight.

Arsenal, Arsene wengerWenger is reluctant to reveal if he will delve into his pocket again this transfer window [PA]

A Champions League play-off against Besiktas to reach the group stages for a 17th straight season and the bait to lure top players to the Emirates in these final days of the transfer window.

Break is an apt word after the fracture suffered by Olivier Giroud that puts Arsene Wenger into a game of strikers blackjack, stick or twist.

The Arsenal manager made the right noises yesterday about how his squad is packed with quality forwards and that he may not be forced into the transfer market.

Yet he will be aware of the pressure to bring in a quality replacement before Monday with Giroud, who scored 22 goals last season, out until the new year.

Win tonight and Wenger can shop for the continent's best, boosted by the income from the group games and the kudos of offering Champions League football.

Arsenal showed spirit of champions [AMBIENT]

Lose and he heads to the end-of-season sales, the guns for hire who the bigger clubs do not want.

What Wenger insists he will not do, though, is pay over the odds just to bring in someone, anyone.

Loic Remy is a definite option because his buy-out clause from Queens Park Rangers puts him in the right price bracket. And Arsenal remain interested in Manchester United's Danny Welbeck.

Sources in France were upping the ante somewhat saying that Arsenal were in for both Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao.

Financially, we’ve always adapted

Arsene Wenger

Wenger, though, slammed the idea that as soon as a player gets injured that clubs should rush out and buy replacements.

He said that with Yaya Sanogo, Joel Campbell (both unproven), Lukas Podolski as well as Theo Walcott set to return at the end of September, he has enough cover.

A smokescreen to stop potential sellers ramping up prices? "We have plenty of players," he said.

"In England as soon as you have a problem people want you to buy.

"Unfortunately I can give you clubs with plenty of players who every time they lose say they have to buy more.

"But if you give the number of strikers we have, it is unbelievable.

"I am not too much in the mood today to be talking about buying or selling.

"If we do not qualify it will affect us because we will have less income.

"But it will not affect our balance sheet in a dramatic way, because we can survive without that.

Arsenal, giroudWenger says Sanchez will fill the striker’s role after Giroud’s injury [GETTY]

"We want to be in the Champions League, we want to play top-level football.

"Financially we have always adapted. When we had very small resources, we adapted to very small resources."

Wenger was guarded about Giroud's injury yesterday but revealed he had damaged his tibia and will undergo further scans today.

"He overstretched his ankle," he said. "It was on the ball, not a contact. The problem is I think his tibia.

"We came back on Saturday night and he was at home on Sunday. He had a medical check and we needed to have further investigation.

"The first news is not fantastic, but I am not a doctor. So I wait for tomorrow's complete examination and decision for how long he will be out."

Wenger is likely to play Sanchez up front tonight and although the Chilean has had a slow start since his £30m move from Barcelona, Wenger says he can play up front in the long term despite being taken off after 45 minutes against Everton.

"You do not convict a player on one half. It was not all bad what he did.

"There was some quality in what he did. I just felt, on the day, we needed some more physical presence because I knew we would play in one half in the second half, and would need more presence. And once you are 2-0 down you will not play on counter-attack."

Arsenal, arsene wenger Giroud could be facing a stint on the sidelines until the New Year [GETTY]

Podolski was expected to leave Arsenal, but Giroud's injury has meant that Wenger will want to keep his World Cup winner.

"He stays, of course," said Wenger emphatically.

Wenger will also have to do without the goals and midfield drive of Aaron Ramsey who is suspended after his dismissal in the first leg. Mikel Arteta is also out with an ankle injury.

"We will have to be ready for a battle in midfield because they gave us one," said Wenger. "We like to move the ball quicker than we did in the first game.

"We are technically equipped to do it, but we need to defend well together and therefore you need to be ready for the battle."

Wenger defended the club's injury record, which is among the highest in the Premier League in recent seasons, saying the injuries to Arteta and Giroud were both accidental rather than muscle strains.

"We do not have any muscular problems apart from Kieran Gibbs," he said. "Overall that is quite good compared with the others. The other injuries are Arteta with an ankle problem and Giroud.

"It is accidental. You cannot plan to get an injury like that, in the 94th minute. I still don't understand how he did it."

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?