Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels his side answered the critics in the best way possible following their 3-0 Champions League play-off first leg win in Turkey, but confirmed he would no longer be looking to bring Luis Suarez to the club.
Wenger had been under fire following a lack of summer spending and a nightmare opening match of the new Premier League season, losing 3-1 at home to Aston Villa.
However, there was no hangover on Wednesday evening as the Gunners coasted to victory at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium with second-half goals from Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud.
“The environment we faced was difficult but the only way to do it is to go out there and play football like you want to play,” said Wenger, who confirmed the club were continuing to work on transfers other than the Liverpool striker after a failed £40m bid.
“This team has shown a lot of mental strength. I told you that you had forgotten that this team has lost only one game since March under very, very special circumstance.
“I believe we played in a very, very heated atmosphere against a good team, but we had a proactive attitude from the first minute on, and that was very important.
“We did not come in shaking, but came in resolute and determined and with a desire to take the game to them and overall we were in control.”
The win, though, came at a cost as defender Laurent Koscielny was forced off with a cut head following a high boot from Pierre Webo, which left the France international needing hospital treatment.
Wenger was less than impressed by the challenge.
He said: “Laurent Koscielny has opened very deeply the skull and we had to take him to hospital.
“I was not happy with the kick because I feel always that you can ease a bit off. Only the player in the end will know what he did.”
Wenger, who missed out on the signing of Gonzalo Higuain earlier this summer, feels the transfer market will now kick-start, but ruled out making an improved bid for Suarez.
“There is absolutely no chance of that,” said Wenger when asked about Suarez.
The Gunners boss, though, stressed he was looking to stren-gthen, especially in midfield, with Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby both also sidelined.
Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye and Real Madrid’s striker Karim Benzema are reported targets.
“We tried to bring one in, but we are working on that. You have to understand there is still a long way to go,” he said.
“The transfer market starts for me now and a lot of activity will happen between now and September 2.
“From August 21 until September 2 you have 12 days, so a lot will happen. It starts now.”
Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain missed the Turkey trip because of a knee injury, but Wenger hopes he will not be sidelined for a lengthy spell.
He said: “There is no surgery – it will be between six and 12 weeks.”