Wenger to spend, spend, spend

Arsene Wenger was today promised the money for three big new signings.

The Arsenal manager, whose season finished on a high after winning the FA Cup against Manchester United on Saturday, will bring in new players to mount an assault on Chelsea's title next year.

Vice-chairman David Dein said: "We will be looking at strengthening the squad with maybe two or three new players coming in. Dennis Bergkamp will be signing a new one-year contract and no one will be leaving the club."

Wenger, who has been looking to strengthen the midfield and bring in a new striker, said: "I think we have 90 per cent of what is needed next season but we want to keep improving and if we find the players we need we will buy them. We have the money."

Reports that Wenger was considering leaving Arsenal once the club have moved to their new Ashburton Grove Stadium next year were denied by Dein and chairman Peter Hill-Wood, who made it clear that he wants the Frenchman to prolong his stay at Highbury beyond the three years remaining on his contract.

Hill-Wood said: "He is the best manager we have had in my time at the club. Why would he want to leave?

"He is left alone with no interference to run the team and he has a great crop of talented young players coming through. And he knows that he has money to spend this summer to bring players in."

As well as keeping Bergkamp, Arsenal are also continuing talks with midfielder Freddie Ljungberg about an extension to his contract. They could be concluded in the next 10 days before the Swede reports for the World Cup qualifying match with Malta early next month.

Arsenal will also renew midfielder Gilberto Silva's contract before finalising their transfer targets.