Arsene Wenger has ruled out bringing any more attackers to Arsenal following the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona, and has instead promised to shore up the Gunners backline.

His comments come with the news that out-of-favour Thomas Vermaelen is nearing the exit door as Manchester United look to take the Belgian away from his Arsenal nightmare.

Vermaelen has hardly touched the first team since losing his place due to injury over a year ago, and with Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker forging the league’s best defensive partnership in his absence, the club captain looks set to jump ship.

The outward movement was one that the Frenchman vowed to gloss over, with the signing of a new centre-back near the top of his list.

He has already in advanced talks with a solid backup goalkeeper in Colombia’s David Ospina keeping with the theme that Wenger revealed he will stick to – building from the back.

Should have kept Bendtner…

That means no more attacking options for the Gunners, opening the door for World Cup success story Joel Campbell to make his way back into the Premier League side after consecutive loan spells.

Yaya Sanogo has failed to impress in his debut season at the club, with Lukas Podolski seemingly unable to lead the line on his own, and Olivier Giroud screaming out for some support having buckled under the strain towards the end of last season.

It also puts an end to any speculation over the signing of the likes of Karim Benzema, Mario Balotelli and Loic Remy, with the latter seemingly Liverpool bound anyway.

"Up front we don't need any more," said Wenger.

"It's not especially for numbers. We need a goalkeeper for sure and after that it depends on how our midfielders get through without injuries until the start of the season. Maybe at centre-back we'll still bring one in."

Latest: