Arsenal could buy a replacement for Welbeck

Cape Town - Arsenal's Director of Football Raul Sanllehi says the club may have to dip into the January transfer market after Danny Welbeck was side-lined with a serious injury.

The 27-year-old attacker was in fine form for the Gunners under Unai Emery this season but suffered a broken ankle in the Europa League and subsequently had two operations.

Sanllehi admitted that with Welbeck unlikely to be back in action before his contract expires at the end of the season, they may have to consider other options.

With Emery telling reporters that Eddie Nketiah will be an immediate stopgap in Welbeck's absence, Sanllehi added: "That is absolutely something unplanned.

"Yes, that makes you consider things. I am not saying that's a green light to go to the market, but we have good players in the house also that may get further opportunities, like Eddie Nketiah for example.

"We need to see. We are in November, so it's a good time to start analysing what options we have in the market. We are not closing the door but it's still not the preferred one.

"The plans were made in the summer. We are happy with how things are going. We are always going to strive to be the best team we can be.

"If there is a very good opportunity, we are definitely going to consider [it], we will see. Danny Welbeck's injury alters, in a way, the views."