Cole was once again missing from the Gunners' line-up for Saturday's 1-0 defeat against Manchester City at Eastlands and Wenger admitted his side lacked experience in the back-four after losing to a Joey Barton penalty.

The England left-back's future will be decided one way or the other when the transfer window closes at midnight Thursday (2300GMT) with Cole set to join Chelsea if the Premiership champions up their 16 million pounds offer closer to Arsenal's 20 million pounds asking price.

Although Arsenal have failed to win their opening two league matches, Wenger refuses to get ruffled by the situation.

"If it happens, it happens." he said.

"And if not, we will carry on. I don't find the situation annoying. If a player wants to leave a club, he generally goes."

With Spain winger Jose Antonio Reyes also looking increasingly likely to leave, Wenger is hoping his squad quickly finds form although he claims he never expected anything other than a sluggish start.

"We are not ready and that shows in the final third where we are not sharp enough," he added.

"But we knew that would be the case with people coming back from the World Cup and the Champions League qualifying round. But we can take a lot of positives out of this game and defeat will not affect our confidence.

"We are also missing some experience in the back-four but we will be okay. If people want to make others champions after three games, that's up to them. But we have only played two games and we'll come back into it."

For Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce the victory came as a relief after a week in which the club suspended left back Ben Thatcher for his vicious challenge on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes.

Pearce believes the defender has learned his lesson although he is bracing himself for further punishment from the FA and, possibly, the police.

"We will continue with our internal investigations into the incident and we will then decide when Ben should return," Pearce said. "But I honestly think the whole thing has sunk in with Ben.

"He has said he is willing to take whatever punishment is thrown at him because he knows he has done wrong. I told him to stay away from the ground today because I thought it would be better for everyone concerned."