Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has stressed that he needs to keep his squad together for the next few years in a bid to win major trophies.
The Gunners have struggled into fifth position on the league table so far this season and are in risk of missing out on Champions League action in 2009/10 if they do not win the competition this term.
Wenger said the trick was keeping the squad together.
"It's important to keep the team together whatever happens, it's important to educate the players," he said.
"You feel after four or five years they will be more of a team than players who have been bought on the market and put together. I believe that is why we have followed this policy.
"We want to have values in our side that are more than players being brought together on the market and just saying 'let's win trophies and parade them'.
"We want a different ideal for the game and for our football. No matter what happens it's very important for the players to stay together."