Arsenal scout doesn't expect Arsene Wenger to sign striker in January despite Theo Walcott injury

Arsenal scout Brian McDermott does not expect manager Arsene Wenger to sign a striker during the January transfer window despite the recent injury of Theo Walcott leaving him short of attacking options. And the former Leeds and Reading manager suggests signing a good forward during the winter market is even more difficult as the best will not be available.

McDermott said, as quoted by Standard Sport: "The manager won't spend unless he thinks it's absolutely necessary. The scouting structure at Arsenal is phenomenal. We all know who the top strikers in the world are. Can you get them to come? They won't be available in January that's an absolute certainty."

The Gunners were heavily linked with a number of strikers during the summer transfer window, such as Real Madrid's Karim Benzema and Paris Saint-Germain star Edinson Cavani. However, Wenger only signed goalkeeper Petr Cech from Chelsea and refused to buy a forward or a defensive midfielder because he believed those available would not improve his options.

Instead, the French manager moved Walcott to a central role to provide competition to Olivier Giroud, with former Manchester United star Danny Welbeck out of action since April due a knee injury that required surgery earlier in the season.

The recent calf injury sustained by Walcott during the Capital One Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday has reopened the debate over Wenger's decision not to sign a striker in the summer. Giroud is his only option for the coming games against Swansea City and the crucial Champions League trip to Bayern Munich.