The Gunners boss found himself fielding questions about off-the-field matters following yesterday's conclusion of the Emirates Cup, which finished with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan for the hosts to claim the trophy.

Wenger was photographed with former Arsenal vice-chairman Dein - who left the club last season following "irreconcilable differences" with the board - after the pair had dinner together in London last week"

The Frenchman, however, insisted it was "simply" a meeting between two friends and that topics exchanged certainly did not include a potential buy-out of the club by American shareholder Stan Kroenke.

"The story is as simple as ever," Wenger insisted.

"I've been friends with David Dein before I was at Arsenal. I was friends with him during his stay here and I'm still friends since he's departed. It's as simple as that.

"I said the other day, I know I have a responsibility here and I want to stand up for it.

"My friendship with David is something different.

"For a long period it was mixed with the life of the club, but it is no longer mixed with that."

Wenger maintained: "We didn't discuss the future at Arsenal.

"He still asked me how it was going at Arsenal, how is the team going? I have no influence in the shareholders.

"I've never been a shareholder. I'm an employee who is responsible for the technical side of the club."

Wenger used this weekend's tournament - which also included Paris Saint Germain and Valencia - to experiment with team selection.

Yesterday's game with the Serie A champions looked to be heading for a draw before Robin van Persie fired in a brilliant winner, dragging the ball back inside his marker with some dazzling footwork.

"It was a great goal, but it was a great team performance," said Wenger, whose side now head to the Amsterdam Tournament next week.

"We played well and that's the most important thing.

"We know Robin can score special goals and he did that again, but we created lots of chances, developed good team play, and played in the way we like to play at a good pace.

"In a physical championship like in England, you have to be ready."

Van Persie had been out since January when he broke his metatarsal.

"We missed him and Thierry together last season. On the score sheet it was a bit too much," said Wenger, facing up to life without his talisman captain following Henry's £16million move to Barcelona.

"Robin played 17 games last year and Thierry 16, 33 games together. Robin scored 11 goals in 17, Thierry 10 in 16. You could multiply that by two."

Wenger - who hopes to have summer signing Eduardo da Silva available in Holland following an appeal to the Home Office for a work permit - believes Van Persie can handle any added weight of expectation.

"The media always pick one or two out [superstars]. Who will it be? " the Arsenal manager reflected.

"The players who are picked out mustn't forget the team-play, the teamwork and that we must play as a team.

"That's not easy to resist when you're picked out as a star. But Robin can handle [the pressure on him to score the goals]."

Wenger, meanwhile, revealed winger Jose Antonio Reyes would not be returning to the club following a loan spell at Real Madrid.

Atletico Madrid are said to be leading the chase for his services.

"We will make an announcement shortly, but he will not come back here. I cannot tell you more than that at the moment," said Wenger.

The Arsenal manager also insisted there was "no truth" in the report he had already lined up former Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder for the position of director of football at Emirates Stadium.

"I like Glenn Roeder, but I've not met with him," he said.

"At the moment I've not decided to appoint him. He would feature on a list of candidates, though."

Inter boss Roberto Mancini, meanwhile, believes Arsenal have a bright future, but are perhaps not yet title challengers.

He said: "This team have so many young good players, but I am not sure if they will be able to compete with Chelsea and Manchester United [next season].

"However, you never know in football because sometimes strange things can happen.

"I am sure, though, that this team has got a bright future."