I did not lie about Welbeck's injury - Wenger : Watch Video

The French manager has refuted claims he lied about the status of his striker's condition just days before the transfer market closed after a quiet window at the Emirates

Arsene Wenger has denied misleading supporters over the extent of Danny Welbeck's knee injury, and defended his failure to sign another striker.

The French coach has come under fire from supporters after news that the England forward could be out for six months, with supporters already upset with the lack of movement in this summer's transfer market.

But Wenger has hit back, saying that when he spoke during a press conference on August 28 - four days before transfer deadline day - he did not know the extent of Welbeck's injury.

"Whether we have players injured or not doesn't change the problem," Wenger insisted.

"I am surprised that people accused me of lying when I was in the press conference on Friday morning [before the transfer deadline]; I did not know Welbeck had a bad setback.

The Gunners boss says he was unaware of the extent of Welbeck's injury worries when he spoke to the media and claims the club were unable to find any suitable players to recruit.

"I did not lie to you. I gave you the information I had.

"I heard late on Friday night that his condition had not evolved as well as we thought it was and he had needed specialist and needed further investigation. Apart from that, if we did not find someone [to sign], we did not find them."