Arsene Wenger has played down suggestions from an Arsenal director that the club have the ability to buy almost any player in the world.

Lord Harris, who suggested that £200m was currently in the club's account, claimed on Thursday that only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were out of Arsenal's reach, but Wenger was quick to dismiss those suggestions, despite confirming that he was still looking at targets ahead of the new season.

"He's gone a bit overboard. It's not true," the Arsenal boss, whose side have been repeatedly linked with Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema in recent days, told reporters. "We are in a situation where we are working hard if an opportunity comes up to do something."

"We are in a strong position with a strong squad I am happy with. If the opportunity turns up, we could still do something.

"We are in a strong financial situation, a healthy one, and it is down to focus on football and the quality of our players - as well as the quality of the players we could still get in - and not too much on the amount of money, which looks sometimes spectacular."

Petr Cech has been the only new recruit to Arsenal's senior squad this summer.