INVISIBLE MAN

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has urged his Double-winning team to forget Ian Wright and go for goals after failing to land a new striker. Wright, now with London rivals West Ham, was regarded as a scoring machine at Highbury, becoming the club's all-time top marksman last season when he eclipsed Cliff Bastin's record of 178 goals by seven. But now Wenger has called for his cosmopolitan band of players to share the scoring around. The fact that Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars responded in such spectacular fashion in the 2-1 home win against Nottingham Forest on Monday indicated, in the short term at least, that Arsenal will be able to paper over the cracks left by Wright's departure and the absence of a striking new signing to accompany Dennis Bergkamp. However, the Arsenal manager saw enough squandered chances to know that a goalscoring replacement for Wright is essential in the longer term if the Gunners are to have any chance of emulating last season. Dutch World Cup star Patrick Kluivert was Wenger's first choice but he conceded yesterday that the proposed deal was 'nearly dead.' He was also unhappy that barring a last-minute rush Arsenal could not make any signings before yesterday's Champions' League transfer deadline. 'As we have no real goalscorer like Ian Wright it means that other players all have to score more goals,' Wenger said. 'When Wright was injured last season they all scored goals for the team and I hope it happens again this season.' A total of 13 Arsenal players scored goals in the Premier League last season and, if the 3-0 Charity Shield win over Manchester United is included, four players have scored in two games so far this term. Wenger has particularly high hope for Overmars, who scored against United and provided another spectacular finish to ensure that Arsenal took three points from their opening Premier League encounter. 'He is a key player for us and what is so important is that he can score from the most amazing situations,' the French manager said. 'He's good enough to play through the middle if necessary and I know he'll score goals again this season. 'He got 16 last season and I think he could do even better.' Although easily the more accomplished team, Arsenal never looked entirely comfortable against a Forest side with all the tenacity that is associated with their manager, Dave Bassett. 'We took three points without being at our best,' Wenger said. 'That is largely because so many of our players were involved in the World Cup and have not had time to prepare for the season properly. 'But the spirit and concentration was right and that pleased me. We had good circulation of the ball but not enough penetration. 'There were times in the first-half when the guile of Wright would have produced a breakthrough.' In Wright's absence, Arsenal have been relying on the pace of Nicolas Anelka to pierce disciplined defences. The young Frenchman hit the back of the net nine times for Arsenal last season, which demonstrated his value. The fact that he has been retained on a five-year deal by Wenger when Barcelona were beckoning, but he has still to put the gloss finish on plying his trade. He has still to learn how best to use his undoubted pace since his impatience encourages him to make runs too early resulting in a vast collection of offside flags. He would possibly do better to make his runs from deeper, as he did with some success against Forest. But the need for a new name to take some pressure off Bergkamp remains, although a suggestion that Ronaldo might be on his way to Arsenal was scoffed at by the wily Wenger. 'Ronaldo?' the Gunners' boss smiled. 'It is impossible. We would have to sell the North Stand, the South Stand, the West Stand and the East Stand for him.' Even Wenger, though, the master of understatement and calm, could not hide his excitement after beginning his club's defence of the Premier League title with a win. He wrote off the FA Charity Shield victory over United as a remnant of the previous campaign. For him, the real thing started against Forest. And now, if one club finishes above them in the league, then the likelihood is that they will be champions, because Wenger and his squad are not in a mood to surrender their prizes lightly. 'Just because we won the Premier League last season,' Wenger said, 'does not mean we will do it again. It will be a different championship, but we are in the same position psychologically and we can do it if we give our best consistently over the course of the season. 'But it will be tough. Look at Chelsea. They are a team that I fear will be a real challenge. They were already close, but they have made the most impressive buys in the summer. With Desailly, Brian Laudrup, Ferrer and Casiraghi, they will be very strong. 'Each year, I tip Liverpool too and one year I am scared that it could come true. There is such potential there. The players are growing and growing and they will have Michael Owen from the start. The frustration from last year will be a motivating factor for them, too. 'Of course, there is Manchester United and Newcastle may surprise people because they have an offensive power that is much greater than before.' It was significant, though, that Wenger also identified the greatest threat to his team's hegemony as a lack of cover in midfield as well as attack. He is particularly concerned that any injury to Anelka - whom he said could grow into a better all-round player than even Ronaldo - would leave Arsenal dangerously exposed in attack. That problem is all the greater because of the peculiar logistical problem that Bergkamp will present this season. With Arsenal involved in a minimum of three away games in the European Cup Champions' League and Bergkamp sticking to his refusal to fly to any of them, a tie in eastern Europe would force Wenger to choose between playing him in the Premier League or in Europe. On trifles like that, titles can be won and lost. 'The Premier League is still my priority,' Wenger said. 'Put it this way, if we are playing in Kiev and Dennis has got to get there on a bike, he will be staying at home.' Another area of concern surrounds skipper Tony Adams, who has said he may quit the game at the end of the season because he is worried about taking too many pills to play. Adams, 31, a reformed alcoholic, has to take anti-inflammatory tablets to cope with an ankle injury and is worried about permanent side-effects. 'If I find I have to take them before every game this season, then I will have to give a lot of thought to carrying on next season,' the World Cup player said. 'I would like to play for at least another couple of seasons and finish at the top. The appetite is very much there. But I want a life after football and there have been worrying reports of long-term side-effects from constant use of these tablets.' Two years ago, Adams rescued his career by giving up alcohol. He played an important role in Arsenal's league and FA Cup double-winning campaign last season. 'If I hadn't done that, I would not have had a prayer of being involved in football today,' he said. 'The way I was going, I would have been dead.' Adams is determined to lead Arsenal to at least another Double and, with the Gunners installed as joint-favourites for the title with United, he may not be far wrong. The last word, though, goes to Forest manager 'Harry' Bassett who, when asked about Arsenal capabilities, said with a smile: 'They're half decent, aren't they.'