Search is on despite new deal for Taylor

"But we are talking and we are hopeful. At the moment I cannot give you a definite name of who we will buy because we have not got that far. But Canizares is one of them, that is true.

"I have confidence in Stuart Taylor but we're not sure he can go through a whole season as first choice and so we need to bring someone experienced into the squad.

Canizares, 33, was first linked with a £10million move to Highbury in June but the club were understood to be put off by the asking price and the player's wage demands - believed to be in the region of £30,000 a week. With Bergkamp and Taylor signed up, Wenger can now concentrate on securing new deals for Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord.

Vieira is due back at Arsenal next week after treatment on a knee injury in the South of France, while Pires and Wiltord are still on holiday following their tour of international duty with France in the Confederations Cup last month.

Pires looks certain to sign, but Wiltord could be a more difficult proposition. Like Vieira and Pires, he has one year left but wants to stay for another four and maybe finish his career in England. But to date, Arsenal have offered their record signing, who cost £11m from Bordeaux three years ago, only a two-year contract.

Meanwhile, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, who played in Saturday's goalless friendly against Barnet, is among a number of youngsters going on Arsenal's tour of Austria which left today.