Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that the Gunners are looking at the option of signing a defender and a striker in the summer transfer window.
The north London club's centre-back Per Mertesacker suffered a knee injury in their pre-season fixture against Lens. The German international underwent a surgery and Arsenal boss has admitted that it is unlikely that the "heavyweight" could return before 2017.
In the attacking division, Danny Welbeck is not likely to feature for the Emiartes club in this calendar year. The former Manchester United forward suffered a second major injury setback, which will see him spend another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The situation leaves Wenger with Olivier Giroud as the first choice striker in the squad, along with Theo Walcott. The England international has struggled in the second half of last season and this could force the Frenchman to dip in the market to bring in a striker.
"Yes I do," Wenger said, when asked if Arsenal will sign a defender before the end of the summer transfer window.
"We are still on the market for players. [Be it] at the front or at the back - we are on the market. Unfortunately we are not alone."
"I buy players that I feel can strengthen our team. Today you have to be very strong inside the club when you are responsible, not just to buy [for the sake of buying]. There's always a wave of opinions.
"I must say people are better informed today - they know all the players. They tell you always that you should buy but when you ask them who to buy, they become much shorter. If you look at the market in Europe, there's a lot of money available but not many players who really strengthen the teams.
"If you look at the teams that spend the most money in Europe, they're not necessarily the teams that won the championships. The global investment of the clubs around us didn't stop Leicester winning the championship."
