The news that Dutchman Robin van Persie will be out four or five months following surgery to repair the ruptured ligaments in his ankle was not good for Arsenal. Van Persie had played a key role as the second striker in the Gunners' attack, and for all Arsenal's talent, there is no natural replacement. Dane Nicklas Bendtner is out with a hernia problem and Brazilian-Croatian Eduardo is still recovering from a double leg break. Injuries have limited Theo Walcott to four games. One candidate is young Mexican Carlos Vela, but he is the most inexperienced of Manager Arsene Wenger's attackers. Wenger may have to look for a replacement on the January transfer market, though his top choice, Bordeaux's Moroccan striker, Marouane Chamakh, won't be available until next summer.

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