Arsène Wenger has reassured his goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski that the shoulder injury that has kept him out of action for the past two weeks has not affected his position as Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper. The Pole is not yet fit enough to feature against West Ham tomorrow but will be buoyed by his manager's suggestion that he will be thrust straight back into the team when he completes his recovery over the coming days, despite the solid displays in Arsenal's past two matches by his deputy and compatriot, Wojciech Szczesny.

Fabianski began this season as Arsenal's second choice but has become a regular since replacing the erratic Manuel Almunia in September. "We live in a world of competition but for me it is clear that Fabianksi is No1," Wenger said.

Almunia, meanwhile, has become so disenchanted at losing his place that he is considering leaving the club during the January transfer window, although Wenger says he may still stay.

With Almunia also injured, Arsenal's substitute goalkeeper at West Ham will be the 19-year-old Irishman James Shea, who has yet to make a senior appearance for the club. Wenger professed to being unconcerned about having a rookie goalkeeper on the bench aswell as about allowing the more experienced Vito Mannone to go out on loan to Hull City. He also said that, if Almunia does leave this month, the club will not buy a replacement. "We have plenty of good keepers," he said. "A club that works well can produce a lot of good keepers."

Wenger confirmed, however, that the club is likely to bring in a new centre-back this month, though perhaps only on loan. Thomas Vermaelen is still "a while away" from recovering from the achilles injury that has kept him out of action for most of the season – the club are still not sure whether he requires surgery – and Sébastien Squillaci is at least two weeks away from fitness. Arsenal, therefore, need another defender. "On a short-term basis you would say yes [to signing a new defender], more as an insurance policy than a need."