Arsene Wenger is extremely reliant upon Robin van Persie © Getty Images Enlarge

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given a clear indication that he could move into the transfer market for a new striker in January.

Robin van Persie has been in the form of his career in 2011, scoring 33 goals, and he leads the Premier League scoring charts for 2011-12 with 15 goals. The Gunners' next highest goalscorers are Mikel Arteta, Thomas Vermaelen and fellow striker Gervinho with three. Marouane Chamakh has netted just once.

Wenger is aware he will lose forwards Gervinho and Chamakh to African Cup of Nations duty shortly after the turn of the year. That, coupled with the latter's lack of form and the gaping hole Van Persie would leave should he suffer another injury, means Wenger could enter the market.

"We lose players like Chamakh and Gervinho to the Africa Cup of Nations, so hopefully touch wood we do not get any injuries to our strikers," he is quoted as saying on Arsenal's official website. "But if an opportunity turns up in that department then we will buy.

"The situation, I must say, is a bit special. Economically the whole environment has changed and people suffer more. The clubs will suffer more financially and it's much more difficult.

"Maybe we will have some opportunities because we are in a good financial situation."

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