Arsène Wenger admits he plans to buy a striker in January

Arsène Wenger has admitted that Robin van Persie's long-term ankle injury will force him to search for a replacement striker during the January transfer window. The Arsenal manager , who is generally wary of the mid-season window, associating it with desperate measures, said he would only do business if any deal were viable. But for the first time since the full extent of Van Persie's injury became clear, he conceded that it had affected his thinking.

"It has to," he said. "It has to because I didn't feel we were in the need to buy anybody, but we will be out on the market, that is for sure. But we will only make a decision if it suits us." Wenger's words will be welcomed by many of the club's supporters who saw him sell Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City over the summer but choose not to replace him. He instead put his faith in Van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner, Eduardo da Silva and Carlos Vela. All four, though, have suffered injuries, with Van Persie's the most demoralising.