Arsene Wenger knows free signing Mathieu Flamini won't be enough after tough Euro draw

ARSENAL were handed the ‘Group of Death’ in the Champions League draw  on Thursday – on the day that Mathieu Flamini became only the second arrival at the Emirates this summer.

But manager Arsene Wenger warned that more is needed if they are to make it to the knockout stages of the competition after being drawn in a group that includes last year’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund, Marseille and Rafa Benitez’s Napoli, who have Gonzalo Higuain, the Argentian striker Arsenal were closely linked with before his £34.5 million move from Real Madrid to Italy.

Ivan Gazidis flew into Monaco for the glittering draw, at which Franck Ribery was named the surprise winner of UEFA’s Balon D’Or trophy for being the best player on the continent. But the Gunners chief executive never made it to the auditorium, as he was called away immediately on urgent business.

Given the horrendous draw, he needs to do something before Monday’s 11pm transfer deadline after signing out-of-contract Flamini did little to appease the anxiety of Arsenal fans.

Even Wenger said: “When you think we lost players of the stature of Mikel Arteta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski for three months basically before the season really starts, it’s very hard to take. We are in a position where you want some more players.”