Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger hoping £40m January transfer funds proves he does know what he is doing Arsenal extended their shirt and stadium sponsorship with airline Emirates in a deal worth £150 million and Wenger can expect substantial funds to strengthen his squad in the new year. How Wenger spends the money could be crucial in quelling the unrest. He said: "I knew about the money before. It means the people who invest in us believe we are doing things in the right way. So it's first a credit in the way we do things and after that, we try to use the money intelligently. When asked if that proved someone did believe he knew what he was doing, Wenger replied: "Not so much. I only managed 1,600 games, 200 Champions League games. So I'm a bit lucky. Wenger has instructed his scouting network to find a new striker, with Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar an early target. Despite the improvement of Giroud, more firepower remains a necessity and Wenger's admission he could re-sign Thierry Henry for a third time has done little to ease the frustration. But there are issues within the current squad that also need sorting. Convincing Theo Walcott - sorely missed at Villa Park with a shoulder injury - to finally sign a new contract is crucial. The return of Wilshere is a huge boost but the form of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and Lukas Podolski is a concern. Oxlade-Chamberlain remains one of England's most prodigious young talents but was ineffectual against Paul Lambert's strugglers, with Wenger insisting that patience will be required. "He has not played a lot recently and lacks a bit of physical fitness," he said. He's learning his trade and he's a very talented young boy. I believe he will be a great player but at the moment he learns his job. You need patience with every young player or you don't bring them out. Villa's deserved point inched them out of the relegation zone to ensure tomorrow night's clash with Reading already has a season-defining feel about it. Lambert's young players cannot be faulted for their endeavour but the Darren Bent debate continues to dominate his team selection. Bent did not even make the squad and Lambert's insistence there is no problem with Villa's record signing appears difficult to believe. He said: "He's fine. The most important thing is Aston Villa. It's my choice and I've 27 lads that I have to look after. Everybody's in it together. I know the disappointment when you don't play, I was dropped about five million times, but that's the nature of the game. Darren's still part of it.