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It is not an issue that has required much of an airing during Arsène Wenger’s time in North London, but are Arsenal creative enough? The manager has more usually been accused of the reverse: being besotted with invention at the expense of efficiency.

Yet after the defeat by Fulham last Saturday, which followed a tepid 1-0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion on the Barclays Premier League’s opening day, it is a charge that Wenger himself levelled at his players. That deficiency, coupled with a more familiar vulnerability, a skittishness at set-pieces that allowed Fulham to score the only goal, resulted in a visibly irate Wenger at Craven Cottage.

“I was furious because we didn’t create a lot,” he said yesterday. “It can happen that you’re 1-0 down on a set-piece, but the way we conceded it — it was a game where you knew it was important not to concede a goal on a set-piece. We didn’t manage to come back, which is unusual for us.”

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There should be no need for a rescue act tonight as Arsenal host FC Twente in the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie, especially since one source of inspiration, Cesc Fàbregas, is fit again after a hamstring injury. Wenger said yesterday that he was unsure whether to risk the Spain midfield player for a match that should be straightforward, with Arsenal holding a 2-0 lead from the first leg.

The manager may be mulling over his team selection, but he is not revising his transfer policy. Money is available to bring in a midfield player, but Wenger is unhurried despite the imminent closure of the window.

“We have a strong squad and I believe in the players I have instead of always looking at who might be coming in,” he said. “It is not one player who makes a difference. It is up to us as a team to show personality, strength and belief within the squad. That will make the difference.

“We just look at the right player and if we can get him, we get him. If we don’t, we don’t. If nothing is done, it will not limit our ambitions.”

It is an attitude that looks increasingly naive as Arsenal’s rivals pay big money for star players. Insularity in the face of stiff competition is hardly a recommended business practice, but Wenger maintains that he can fight the power of Chelsea and Manchester United by adhering to his principles and playing his own game.

“I don’t know why we are always under pressure to buy £30-40 million players,” he said. “I’m under pressure to buy good players, it’s as simple as that. [Talent is] not always necessarily linked to the price of the player. There is still a market to buy the right players. We are struggling to find them, but we will find them, don’t worry. When you believe in your players and the squad, it is never really hard. It doesn’t worry me too much. They [Chelsea] buy Robinho, but what can you do about it, frankly? We have to look not at Chelsea, Manchester United or Liverpool, we have to look at ourselves.

“I believe that the real question we have to answer is, ‘Is what we displayed on Saturday our real level or not?’ The basic answer we can give is, ‘Let’s do the maximum with the potential we have.’ Had we been at our maximum on Saturday? No. The players know it as well. Let’s give the right answer. After [we play at our maximum]: is Chelsea better, or Manchester United? I’m not convinced.”

Despite the concerns, Wenger projected confidence. “It’s not necessary to make a revolution,” he said. “Last year we had four players in the [PFA] team of the year, they have not become bad players. Why should we worry? Let everybody talk and let’s show how good we are on the field.”

It seemed the right response for yesterday, at any rate, but there are some questions for which the only correct answer will be the sight of Arsenal’s players parading a trophy come May.