Gunners have just one fit striker in Olivier Giroud.
Arsenal are facing a striker shortage after Yaya Sanogo returned from international duty with France under-21s carrying a back strain.
Sanogo’s injury leaves Olivier Giroud as the only fit senior striker at the club, with Lukas Podolski facing three months on the sidelines and Nicklas Bendtner lacking match fitness.
Theo Walcott, who limped out of England’s drab 0-0 draw in Ukraine on Tuesday, should be fit for Saturday’s clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light but 17-year-old Chuba Akpom is likely to be on the bench for the match, in which £43m signing Mesut Ozil is expected to make his Gunners debut.
Arsenal were linked with a host of top strikers in the summer transfer window including Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez and Demba Ba, but boss Arsene Wenger failed to wrap up deals for any forwards.
However, the North London outfit are ‘close’ to signing free agent Ciprian Marica, according to the agent of the Romanian striker.
The 27-year-old left Schalke earlier this summer and has been linked with Shakhtar Donetsk, Lazio and Inter Milan.
His agent Ioan Becali said: “Marica is a really great striker who has already got experience in western European football and so it’s natural that big clubs are eyeing his career. He’s close to joining Arsenal , but we have to wait for the next week.”
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