Arsenal vs. Southampton: Arsene Wenger's Key Pre-Match Press Conference Quotes

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted he wants Jack Wilshere to stay at the Gunners for his entire career and refused to comment on rumours that Bournemouth's Eddie Howe is in line to be his successor. 

Wilshere has been plagued by injury for much of his career and spent almost the entirety of last season on the sidelines, making only one start in the Premier League.

As a result he fell down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium and was loaned out to Bournemouth at the end of the summer transfer window.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal's home clash with Southampton on Saturday, Wenger explained why he allowed the 24-year-old to leave for a season, per the Mirror:

"

I spoke to Jack and there were concerns that he wouldn’t play enough. I couldn’t guarantee that. If he has some time then he will come back at a competitive level. He’s gone to play games. He wanted games and I can understand his desire, it’s a logical decision. Let’s not forget that he missed last year... you can’t afford to be out two seasons without playing at the top level. I hope personally that he stays his whole career here. He’s a world-class player, he doesn’t have to show me that he can play at Bournemouth he just needs to be back [and playing] at a competitive level.

"

According to Neil Ashton in the Sun, Cherries boss Howe, 38, is "under serious consideration" to succeed Wenger as Arsenal boss, with the Frenchman's contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The 66-year-old has been manager at Arsenal since 1996 and has long been rumoured to be nearing the end of his career, but he was evasive when asked about his potential successor on Friday, per the Evening Standard's James Olley:

Arsenal have not made the best of starts to the new season. They followed an opening-day home loss to Liverpool with an away draw with defending champions Leicester and most recently beat Watford 3-1 at Vicarage Road.

Back in front of their home fans on Saturday they will be eager to claim all three points against Southampton as they look to keep in check with pace-setters Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea—all of whom have nine points from their opening three games.

However, Wenger hinted that he could choose to rest some players against the Saints with Arsenal's opening UEFA Champions League game of the season coming up on Tuesday at Paris Saint-Germain, per the Mirror: 

"

It’s the first time for quite a while that I have a whole squad full of men ready to compete. At the top level of competition now you don’t have enough time to practice. There are lots of competitions. Maybe we’ll rest a few [on Saturday] because we have a game on Tuesday, but when you have a big squad it is easy.

"

Since Arsenal's last match with Watford, Wenger has brought in two key new players, signing centre-back Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna forward Lucas Perez late in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners manager said the pair have settled well but did not confirm whether they would start against Southampton, per ESPN FC's Ben Dinnery:

Mustafi is a likely starter given how short Arsenal are in the centre of defence with Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista both sidelined through injury. 

In their opening home game of the season, Arsenal shipped four goals against Liverpool—a scenario they will be eager to avoid on Saturday—and Mustafi will be key in the long term to shoring up the Gunners back line.