ARSÈNE WENGER HAS GIVEN mischievous responses when asked whether he wanted to sign Nicolas Anelka, but he was more definite that José Antonio Reyes will not be returning to the club. The Arsenal manager is expected to announce a deal to sell the forward this week, almost certainly to Atlético Madrid.

The Spanish club have offered £8 million and a four-year contract, a few million more than Real Madrid, who are unlikely to increase their offer. He was on loan at Real last term and has said that he does not want to return to England. “He will not come back here,” Wenger said.

The departures of Reyes, and Thierry Henry arguably leave Arsenal short of one forward. They boast a quartet of exciting strikers, but many supporters do not believe that they offer enough to mount a credible title challenge.

Arsenal lifted the inaugural Emirates Cup at their home ground yesterday in front of a crowd of 59,600 thanks to the brilliance of Robin van Persie who rolled the ball on to his right foot and rifled it into the roof of the net four minutes from time to secure a 2-1 victory against Inter Milan. The Holland forward missed half of last season after breaking his foot in scoring an equalising goal against Manchester United in January.

“It was a great goal,” Wenger said. “We know Robin can score special goals. He can handle [the pressure on him to score the goals]. We missed him and Thierry together last season. But we created lots of chances, developed good team play at a good pace.”

The naggings doubts over the preferred centre-back pairing of Kolo Touré and William Gallas remain. Neither dominate in the air. Yesterday, Gallas was beaten to a left-wing cross by a fantastic leap by David Suazo, whose flicked header gave Inter the lead midway through the second half. “In the air, we have to be more efficient,” Wenger said. “But I don’t want to buy a centre back.”

Arsenal attacked with vibrancy, without having the cutting edge to convert the several half-chances created. The lively Bacary Sagna roamed forward from right back and appeared better defensively than Emmanuel Eboué, who played, and tumbled easily, on the right wing. Alexander Hleb, who scored the first goal, played in the centre, and may figure more there.