Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Arsene Wenger Quotes, Yohan Cabaye Gossip and More

Arsenal are desperately attempting to improve the roster during the transfer window in August after finishing fourth in the English Premier League standings last season and more recently suffering an opening-day defeat at the hands of Aston Villa. 

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has made it known the club means business during the transfer window. According to Jeremy Wilson of The Telegraph, Arsenal have been linked to several players, including Luiz Gustavo, Gonzalo Higuain, Lars Bender and Luis Suarez. 

The problem is that Wenger has failed to land any of the above targets. So far, the only victory has been the addition of Yaya Sanogo. Per the report from Wilson, Arsenal still have £70 million budgeted. 

The time is now for Arsene Wenger to make something happen. Here's the latest from the boss and more. 

The Boss Is Not Happy 

As mentioned, Wenger's club was stunned at home by Aston Villa by the score of 3-1 on Saturday. Interestingly enough, Wenger's campaign for being active during the transfer window began well before the shocking defeat, according to Fox Sports: 

"

We are active. We are in a situation like Manchester United, like Chelsea, where everybody expects signings and at the moment not a lot has happened. There are 18 days to go, so that is a long time in the transfer market and we will be active. I cannot certify what the number [of players coming in will be], but we will be active until the end, that is for sure.

"

It's easy to imagine how angry the boss was after the upset. Perhaps disappointed is the better word—Wenger says he thinks the club could have defeated Aston Villa with the players on the pitch, but he reinforced the notion the club is on the market to buy players, according to Dan Silver of the Daily Mirror:

"

Could we have won the game with the players we had on the pitch? I say yes...And if we don't spend the money it's because we don't find the players...We want our fans to be happy and when you don't achieve that you feel sorry and really disappointed...My job is to make the fans happy. But we haven't lost a game because of that. That's what I want to convince you of...We are in the market, everybody knows we are ready to buy players, but until we buy players we have to win football games and it's not an excuse not to win the game.

"

Wenger almost sounds expectant of not making a big splash during the window, which makes sense given the failures to this point. The boss is committed to improving for the fans, but that clearly has to happen during the window and on the pitch—not one or the other. 

Arsenal Not Aggressive Enough in Pursuit of Yohan Cabaye

One player in Wenger's sights is Newcastle's highly rated midfielder Yohan Cabaye. According to Sky Sports, Arsenal recently made a bid on the star:

Unfortunately for Wenger, it sounds as if he will need to dive deeper into his pockets to come away with Cabaye, as Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will apparently reject the bid in an attempt to drive up the price, according to the Guardian: 

"

The London club made an approach on Monday but the offer will be turned down as the Newcastle owner, Mike Ashley, looks to force up the price.

It is understood that the club want nearer £20m for Cabaye, who has become a key player for Newcastle since joining two years ago and who still has three years remaining on his contract.

"

If the gossip is true, Wenger must give up more if he truly wants to improve the roster. Newcastle are probably not thrilled with the bid considering Cabaye is set to start Monday night in the opener against Manchester City.

Of course, there are always other options Arsenal have yet to exhaust on the transfer window. 

Interest in Geoffrey Kondogbia and Atsuto Uchida?

The transfer window still has plenty of talent; this much Wenger understands. Outside of the rejected offer for Cabaye, Arsenal have reportedly entered the bidding for Geoffrey Kondogbia and Atsuto Uchida in an attempt to go on an end-of-summer spending spree. 

The report comes from Wayne Veysey of Goal.com:

As Veysey reports, Arsenal must cough up the £17.2 million rate to bring on Kondogbia. He further goes on to point out that Kondogbia is very similar to Luiz Gustavo, a player Arsenal lost out on earlier in the window. 

With injuries to players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mikel Arteta, paying the ludicrous rate for Kondogbia may be the only way to go. The cost for Cabaye is potentially going to be even more lucrative at this point. 

Wenger has plenty of tough decisions to make, but despite his past shortcomings during the window, there are still plenty of opportunities for improvement to be had—for the right price. 

Follow B/R's Chris Roling on Twitter for more news and analysis @Chris_Roling