"?Arsene Wenger has hinted that he will be looking to bring in a new striker to strengthen his squad over the summer, indicating that losing Danny Welbeck to a long-term knee injury could have altered his plans.
Welbeck is set to miss around nine months after having surgery on the injury he picked up against Manchester City on the weekend, ruling him out of most of next season and leaving Wenger with a gaping hole in his team.
Speaking in his "?pre-match press conference, he said: "I must say it was very difficult for us because we expected Welbeck back [last] April, it was very difficult to envisage that he would be out for such a long time. Cazorla was out for five months, Coquelin for four months. Could we have done something?
"We have done something, we have brought in Elneny who has done extremely well. We got Iwobi out of the youth academy and he has done extremely well when he came in. As well you must say that you don't find the players in January extremely available who strengthen the squad."
When asked if Welbeck's injury had specifically affected his plans, he replied: "It is a good question, we have to think about that. When a player is out for nine months, you have to consider that it is a season and that makes you short on the striker front."
Friday's press conference also focused on the Frenchman's contract status, with the 66-year-old saying: "What I focus on is respecting my contract and then envisage what I will do afterwards. I can understand people are interested in that, but that is not the most important thing. I extended my contract in a period that was vital for the club and after that i will see where I am personally and where the club stands at the end of my contract."
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