Stan Kroenke

Arsenal are expected to announce soon, possibly within days, their first major signing following a disappointing end to a season that promised to deliver another League title.

The most likely arrival appears to be the France international left-winger Hatem Ben Arfa, who has long been admired by Wenger and who claimed in the French sports newspaper L'Equipe that he is in talks with the Gunners. "It is true that we have spoken about Arsenal, but we will see how it is going to happen," he said.

The French season has not yet ended and Ben Arfa, a 21-year-old of Tunisian descent who can also play as a central striker, has endured a difficult season at Lyons under coach Alain Perrin. Although having just been voted the French league's young player of the season, he has been in and out of the team. Ben Arfa has been in talks to extend his contract but has sought first-team guarantees, while a swap deal involving Marseilles' Samir Nasri has also been mooted.

Arsenal know that Lyons are a notoriously difficult club to negotiate with and that Ben Arfa's public declaration may be a bargaining tool for his own ends, but an offer of more than £11m is likely to succeed. It would also be a statement of intent from the club who have been angered by suggestions that they are strapped for cash in the transfer market.

Ken Friar, Arsenal's acting manager director, has reassured the influential Arsenal Supporters Trust, that a sizeable kitty is available to Wenger which includes cash rolled over from his lack of spending last season. Arsenal are also targeting a powerful central defender and there may possibly be a third new arrival to counterbalance the loss of Mathieu Flamini and the expected departure of Alexander Hleb.