Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed plans to buy a new striker in January following the sports injury to Robin van Persie.

The Dutch player suffered ankle damage while on international duty last month and could face up to five months on the sidelines.

Wenger recently said that he did not feel compelled to spend money in the next transfer window, but the Frenchman's latest comments indicate that Van Persie's injury has forced him to change his mind.

The manager commented: "I did not feel we were in need to buy anybody, but we will be out on the market - that is for sure now.

"However, we will only make a decision if it suits us."

Newspaper reports have linked Arsenal with a possible January move for Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh, Internazionale striker Mario Balotelli or Andre-Pierre Gignac of Toulouse.

Last month, Van Persie revealed that he was visiting controversial Serbian physiotherapist Mariana Kovacevic - whose treatments include rubbing damaged ligaments with a horse placenta - in an attempt to ease his sports injury woes.