The Gunners, who will have to get past Scottish side Celtic to reach the lucrative group stages of the Champions League once again, finish their pre-season campaign at Valencia tomorrow night.

The trip to Spain will offer Wenger another chance to tinker with his starting XI ahead of the trip to Everton on the opening day of the new Barclays Premier League campaign.

England forward Theo Walcott will be considered again, having been given some extra time off following busy summer of international football, while 17-year-old Jack Wilshere impressed at the Emirates Cup.

With Samir Nasri set the miss the start of the campaign because of a broken leg suffered while at the Gunners' training camp in Austria, pre-season has been something of a delicate balancing act for Wenger as he looks for the right blend between defence and such a natural attacking force.

Although centre-half Thomas Vermaelen, signed in a £10million deal from Ajax, could make an appearance tomorrow, Czech winger Tomas Rosicky faces another frustrating spell in the treatment room having picked up a hamstring problem after just returning from 18 months on the sidelines.

It all leaves the Gunners boss, who may yet add to his squad before next week's kick-off, with plenty of selection posers.

"We have many offensive players, and maybe we have to tighten up a bit in midfield to keep a balance between defence and attack," he said.

"I wanted to see how it worked in the preparation games, and I have been quite happy with it."

The Arsenal manager added: "You need a certain amount of pace and power in your team, and that is not necessarily linked with size.

"It is more a question of the balance in your team."

Wenger yesterday admitted he was still in the market for "one or two" players, most likely in midfield and at the back.

Moves for former captain Patrick Vieira and Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh appear to have be put on the back burner, while St Etienne have insisted midfielder Blaise Matuidi is simply not for sale.

"The fee asked (for Chamakh) is too high and we have to respect Bordeaux's decision," Wenger said in L'Equipe.

"The player is under contract, so Bordeaux are making the decision. They can ask whatever fee they want.

"Will I abandon that trail? I don't know. I will give myself a few days to think about it.

"He is an excellent player that works for his team and makes the other players good. They are the kind of qualities that we like."

Defender Philippe Senderos, loaned to AC Milan last season, is in talks with Everton, while reports in Spain suggest young midfielder Fran Merida, 19, will spend the campaign getting some regular first-team experience with Levante.

However, Wenger has told Birmingham full-back Armand Traore will not be loaned out.

Former Arsenal captain Frank McLintock, meanwhile, believes the Gunners' squad is not far away from making a sustained assault on the title once again.

McLintock, whose side won the domestic Double in 1970, told Press Association Sport: "If they could get two or three really good, experienced players who could settle in quickly, then I would fancy Arsenal for the championship. I think they are so close.

"I know Rosicky has got injured again, but when you see him play, you realise what a good player Arsenal have missed.

"Then you see [Andrey] Arshavin looking fantastic, you see Eduardo back, a player like young Jack Wilshere, who looks like another Liam Brady, so they have so much going for them."

McLintock added: "However, no matter how skilful you are, you still need enough height and strength to counter the problems other teams will give you, so it is all a question of balance.

"Arsenal are very close to it, and if they were to go out and get a dominant centre-half and a dominant midfield player, then I think they are well equipped to really go to town."

Wenger revealed he would send a strong side out against Valencia.

"It will be as close as possible to the team which will start at Everton," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.

"I will not show all of my cards maybe, but 90%."

Wenger added: "You will come out of the game against Valencia with some conclusions, particularly on the defensive side because they always have a go at you - whether it is Barcelona, Arsenal or Real Madrid.

"If you come out of there with a positive result, then you know you have a strong team."