Wenger calls for improvement

Arsene Wenger is convinced Arsenal can become the dominant force in English football once again, yet may have little option but to make further changes to his squad before they return for pre-season training.

Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor has made it clear through comments in the media he wants an improved deal from the Gunners, with Barcelona the latest European side to have tested Arsenal's resolve in a reported £30million ($66 million) bid for last season's top scorer.

The future of Belarus winger Alexander Hleb has also yet to be resolved one way or another.

Cashing in on both or either man would certainly guarantee the Emirates Stadium club a bumper return from their initial outlay, but would leave Wenger with gaps - particularly in attack - to fill before the squad heads off to their Austrian training camp on July 21.

Blackburn's Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz and Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins, rated around £14million, are possible replacements, while long-time target Samir Nasri is expected to be formally announced as an Arsenal player in the next "few days", according to Marseille chairman Pape Diouf.

Portugal Under-21 international Amaury Bischoff is another who claims he is on his way to Emirates after German side Werder Bremen announced his departure.

Wenger - whose one confirmed summer buy has been promising Wales teenager Aaron Ramsey - believes the current squad, as a collective unit, have the potential to be his best yet.

"At the end of the season I just told the players to go on holiday, forget about it for a few weeks, and be ready to come back with a new desire and new hope for next season," Wenger told the official Arsenal magazine.

"I feel the togetherness is there, the desire is there, and the quality is there. They have very good ingredients. We have done extremely well.

"We had 68 points last year, and we had 83 this season, so we made a big improvement."

Wenger added: "We just want to make another improvement next year, and if we can manage that improvement, what will follow naturally is domination."

Arsenal have again resisted the temptation of lucrative offers to tour away from Europe, and will instead embark on Wenger's preferred trip to Austria, where he had already spent time this summer for the European Championship.

A Gunners XI will face Barnet at Underhill in their traditional start to pre-season, before games against local sides in Austria and then a clash with VfB Stuttgart - Hleb's former club - on July 30.

Wenger's squad complete their warm-up for the Champions League qualifier on August 12/13 by hosting the Emirates Cup and also playing in the Amsterdam Tournament after an exhibition match at the Galpharm Stadium as part of Huddersfield's centenary celebrations.