Arsene Wenger is set to overhaul Arsenal's young squad after the Gunners was eliminated 1-4 in aggregate in Champions League semifinal by Manchester United.
After spending most of the season defending his decision to spurn big-money signings in favour of developing a team for the future, this chastening defeat has finally forced Wenger to admit he might make changes to that policy.
"What we do next is a hard question to answer. I'm too disappointed now. I need to take some distance with this season," Wenger said.
"We have gone 21 games unbeaten in the league but in the games that mattered like the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea and this defeat to United we didn't do enough to win and we need to think about that."
After opting against multi-million pounds bids for Aston Villa's Gareth Barry and Liverpool's Xabi Alonso earlier this season, Wenger has been left with a midfield painfully short of a holding player to partner Cesc Fabregas.
Addressing that concern is only the start of Wenger's to-do list as he faces up to a fourth successive season without silverware.
Arsenal have no problem playing stylish football but if the Gunners are to recapture the form that made them invincible in 2004 they desperately need a more prolific striker and a commanding centre-back as well as that elusive midfielder.
Wenger's pride ensures he will keep faith with some of his youngsters, but even he knows more experienced options are essential.
"To reach this level, they deserve much credit but we were caught by a team who took advantage of every mistake we made," said he.
(Xinhua News Agency?May 6, 2009)
