Lukas Podolski has been ruled out for up to ten weeks after the hamstring injury he suffered during Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League play-off victory over Fenerbache proved worse than initially feared.
The German international was taken off on a stretcher shortly after half time at the Emirates, leading the club initially expecting him to be absent for around three weeks.
However, with the 28 year old expected to be absent until early November, Arsene Wenger may step up his search for a new striker, with just four days left until the transfer window closes.
However, it is further back in the field where all the activity seems to be taking place, with the Independent understanding that the club have re-signed midfielder Mathieu Flamini on a two year deal.
The 29 year old, who left the Gunners for AC Milan in 2008, has been training with Wenger’s squad for the past two weeks and is now could now be in contention for Sunday’s North London derby.
Meanwhile, while the Gunners wait to see who they will be drawn against in the group stages of the Champions League, the club have discovered their opponents in the third round of the League Cup.
Arsene Wenger’s men will travel to West Bromwich Albion in one of five all Premier League ties, in the week commencing 23rd September.
