Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits that there was nothing subtle in the Gunners move to sign Luis Suarez from Liverpool in the summer.
Talking ahead of this afternoon’s game against Liverpool at the Emirates the Frenchman admitted that his clubs offer of £40 million plus £1 was in no way meant to be provocative.
Arsenal bid that bizarre amount thinking that by going over £40 million it would trigger a release clause in the striker’s contract.
Wenger insists that there is no ill feeling between the clubs as they prepare for one of the biggest matches so far this season.
“It was not the most subtle thing we have done, but it was not meant to be provocative at all. It could be interpreted like that, but it was not our purpose,” the Frenchman said.
“It was one of the transfers that did not work and in every club you have two or three, but there is no need afterwards to speak about it.
“Suarez is a professional, he plays there, he is paid by Liverpool, and that is it.
“Relations (with Liverpool) are good. We kept in touch over that period.”
Wenger admits that there are no regrets over failing to sign Suarez, as the Gunners look towards winning Saturday’s showdown.
“Life is about opportunities that you miss, some that you take,” Wenger added. “You can only make life with your own qualities.
“We have a squad that is good enough to beat Liverpool and that is what we want to show and focus on.”
Arsenal meanwhile was left wanting after easily losing to Chelsea midweek, but the 64-year-old manager feels that when he has a full squad to select from they can beat anybody.
“I watched the game again and you can come to the conclusion that Chelsea are a more complete squad,” said Wenger, who will have midfielder Mikel Arteta back from a one-match suspension.
“What we want first is to convince everybody that we can play at the top and hopefully in April we can ask ourselves have we got enough resources to cross the line,” he said.
“It was a disappointment on Tuesday, I cannot deny that and we want to respond in a very strong way in a competition where we are in a very strong position.”
“However, on the night, did not had everyone available – no (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain, not (Mathieu) Flamini, not (Theo) Walcott, not (Lukas) Podolski.
“Chelsea only have one injured player at the moment with (Marco) van Ginkel and I think if we had only one injured player, then we can compete.”
