Arsène Wenger told to spend, spend, spend after Aston Villa defeat

Arsenal manager gets hostile reaction from fans after 3-1 home loss

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger said he is prepared to strengthen his squad before the end of the transfer window (AFP\Getty)

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger said he is prepared to strengthen his squad before the end of the transfer window after facing a hostile reaction to yesterday's 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa. Wenger was booed by some fans, who held up banners calling on him to "spend, spend, spend" as frustration at Arsenal's lack of transfer activity grows. More immediately they face a crucial Champions' League qualifying round against Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Wednesday with six of yesterday's stating XI doubtful through injury.

On yesterday's crowd reaction, Wenger said: "I know how people respond to a defeat like that. Could we have won the game with the players we had on the pitch today? I say yes. We want our fans to be happy and we are ready to buy players if we find players good enough for us."

Wenger then criticised yesterday's referee. "I didn't like his performance, but more than that, the spirit of it," he said of Anthony Taylor, who gave Villa two penalties that resulted in goals, and sent off Laurent Koscielny for two yellow cards.

"The linesman told me he didn't give a penalty and he was at the level of [Koscielny's] tackle, so why does the referee suddenly give it?" Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Bacary Sagna all had to be substituted with serious looking injuries and there are doubts about Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey for Wednesday.