Transfer deadline day: Martin Keown attacks Arsene Wenger failure to sign a striker

After a very quiet deadline day for Arsenal, club legend Martin Keown has said the Gunners missed out a major opportunity to land a much-needed striker for the upcoming season.

Arsene Wenger made just two signings this window, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and Romanian midfielder Vlad Dragomir from Poli Timisoara.

Wenger had been connected to some big name strikers over the summer, including Edinson Cavani, and rumours swirled on the last day of the transfer window that he had made a desperate flight to Paris to seal a deal.

But the day ended with no news from the Emirates and Keown believes that it might be a decision Wenger will regret come the end of the season.

"There seems to be utter madness in the transfer window and Arsene Wenger has stepped away from it," he told the BBC.

"[Arsenal] badly need a striker. Only time will tell if [Arsene] is right but the early signs are that it is an area of weakness. I think there's been a missed opportunity."

Arsenal have been known for staying out of the craziness of deadline day but after spending many seasons fighting for fourth place, critics had argued that with a big-name striker on the books the club would finally be able to start putting up a serious fight for the title again.

The club let a whopping 17 players go over the course of the summer – some on loan and some permanently – and fans are sure to be frustrated by Wenger once again displaying a stubbornness over the prospect of splashing cash on a big name.