Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was questioned about what characteristics he was looking for in a possible new signing and revealed that he puts quality above experience when searching for a new star.

Wenger has been overly critcised by certain segments of Arsenal fans after selling experienced players and buying un-proven youngsters in the summer transfer window.

Despite that, the 52-year-old Frenchman believes quality is certainly more important than experience when it comes to looking for a new player.

“We need someone that can integrate the spirit and technical level of the team as well as the ambition of the team. He also has to have an immense desire to join Arsenal Football Club as well. Experience can help, but first is quality, then experience. But most importantly - quality.” said Wenger speaking to Arsenal TV Online.

Udinese midfielder Gökhan Inler has been heavily linked with a move to north London and could prove to be the “quality” that Wenger is talking about. Inler, 25, starred for Switzerland during their Euro2008 slump and his ‘hardman’ reputation might just persuade Wenger to make the signing which all fans are waiting for.

Arsenal entertain West Bromwich Albion in the 2008-2009 Premiership curtain raiser at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be looking to put the disappointment of last season behind him. In a season that promised so much the Gunners ended the campaign without a trophy. Something the Frenchman is keen to put right this season.

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray might have wished for an easier opening fixture after winning the Championship last season, with Mowbray reportedly a fan of Wenger and the Arsenal style of play. However, Mowbray is not sending his team to London for a day trip and his West Brom side were by far the best footballing team in the Championship last season and could surprise a few people this season.

Arsenal have seen a few key players leave the Emirates in the summer, with Mathieu Flamini, Gilberto Silva, Alexander Hleb and Jens Lehmann all moving on. Wenger once again has kept to his policy of bringing young talent to the North London club following the arrival of Samir Nasri, Amaury Bischoff, Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin. The Gunners boss has also handed professional deals to six of the youth team.

Out of all the promoted clubs the Baggies have been most active in the transfer market, with Luke Moore, Kim Do-Heon, Gianni Zuiverloon, Graham Dorrans, Roman Bednar, Marek Cech, Scott Carson and Abdoulaye Meite all committing to the Hawthorns. Zoltan Gera, Curtis Davies and Kevin Phillips are the most notable players to leave the Midlands club this summer.

Arsenal Team News

Samri Nasri looks set to make his full Arsenal debut having missed the midweek Champions League qualifier against FC Twente because of a niggling thigh and knee complaint.

Defender Kolo Toure (hip) will also be back in the squad, but Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Abou Diaby (thigh), Philippe Senderos (hamstring), Amaury Bischoff (groin), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and striker Eduardo (leg) remain in recovery, while Alex Song is at the Olympics.

An interesting match fact for you, Arsenal last lost on the opening day in 2000 when they were beaten 1-0 away at Sunderland.

Predicted Starting XI

Almunia

Sagna - Toure - Gallas - Clichy

Eboue - Denilson - Nasri - Walcott

Adebayor - van Persie

West Brom Team News

West Brom are without striker Luke Moore, midfielder Robert Koren, central defender Neil Clement and right-back Gianni Zuiverloon.

Moore has a thigh problem, Koren is still not fit following a knee ligament injury, Clement also has a knee problem while Zuiverloon is on duty with Holland at the Olympics.

Central defender Abdoulaye Meite, who joined Albion from Bolton Wanderers in a £3.5million deal last weekend, is set to make his debut in place of Clement.

Predicted Starting XI

Carson

Hoefkens - Barnett - Meite - Cech

Morrison - Greening - Kim - Brunt

Bednar - Miller

Match Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 West Brom

Leave your views and predictions of tomorrow’s game in the comments section below.

Middlesborough boss Gareth Southgate is hoping Jeremie Aliadiere will convince ex-Arsenal team-mate Justin Hoyte to join the Teesside club.

The 23-year-old is wanted as a replacement for already-departed Luke Young and Arsenal accepted a reported £3.5million bid from Southgate’s side yesterday afternoon.

Southgate said: “I will try and sell my vision for the club. Justin’s got fantastic potential and I will be making sure Jeremie [Aliadiere] speaks with him.”

Hoyte joined Arsenal as an 11-year-old and made his first-team debut as a substitute against Southampton in 2003.

However, he failed to establish himself as a first-choice pick for Arsene Wenger and joined Sunderland on loan for the 2005-06 season.

Hoyte then returned to the Gunners and provided injury cover the next season, becoming the first Englishman to score for Arsenal at the new Emirates Stadium against Charlton in January 2007.

Middlesborough boss Gareth Southgate is hoping Jeremie Aliadiere will convince ex-Arsenal team-mate Justin Hoyte to join the Teesside club.

The 23-year-old is wanted as a replacement for already-departed Luke Young and Arsenal accepted a reported £3.5million bid from Southgate’s side yesterday afternoon.

Southgate said: “I will try and sell my vision for the club. Justin’s got fantastic potential and I will be making sure Jeremie [Aliadiere] speaks with him.”

Hoyte joined Arsenal as an 11-year-old and made his first-team debut as a substitute against Southampton in 2003.

However, he failed to establish himself as a first-choice pick for Arsene Wenger and joined Sunderland on loan for the 2005-06 season.

Hoyte then returned to the Gunners and provided injury cover the next season, becoming the first Englishman to score for Arsenal at the new Emirates Stadium against Charlton in January 2007.

Middlesborough boss Gareth Southgate is hoping Jeremie Aliadiere will convince ex-Arsenal team-mate Justin Hoyte to join the Teesside club.

The 23-year-old is wanted as a replacement for already-departed Luke Young and Arsenal accepted a reported £3.5million bid from Southgate’s side yesterday afternoon.

Southgate said: “I will try and sell my vision for the club. Justin’s got fantastic potential and I will be making sure Jeremie [Aliadiere] speaks with him.”

Hoyte joined Arsenal as an 11-year-old and made his first-team debut as a substitute against Southampton in 2003.

However, he failed to establish himself as a first-choice pick for Arsene Wenger and joined Sunderland on loan for the 2005-06 season.

Hoyte then returned to the Gunners and provided injury cover the next season, becoming the first Englishman to score for Arsenal at the new Emirates Stadium against Charlton in January 2007.

Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes insists that he has never had any contact with North London rivals Arsenal; as he began to seek a transfer away from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven.

“I was told by the press about Arsenal, but they never made any official offer for me,” Gomes told setantasports.com.

“I opted to join Tottenham because they have a good project of work managed by a top coach, which is Juande Ramos.”

The 27-year-old signed for Sp*rs on the 26th June for a fee believed to be around £7.8 million.

A West Brom preview will be avaliable later on this afternoon and a match report will be published immediately after full time.