Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is adamant they won't be caught short like last summer, despite Robin van Persie's pending departure.

Arsenal made a difficult start to the 2011/12 campaign as both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri departed, while a slew of injuries also had a deep impact.

But Wenger says his squad is in much better shape now than it was at the same point last year.

"The situation is not the same as last season," he told arsenal.com. "We have a squad that is solid and we have bought two strikers.

"Last year we lost not only two players in the transfer market, but players through injury in pre-season. We lost Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere, and also Rosicky at the start of the season. That was not predictable.

"Last year's situation was difficult for us through injuries, not only the transfer market. I knew Fabregas would go, but we lost Wilshere, Diaby and Rosicky on top of that. It was too difficult."