WENGER PONDERS MOVE FOR CHAMAKH

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger is expected to make serious attempts to pep up his strikeforce in January following Robin van Persie's injury.

The loss of the Dutchman for around five months is a hammer blow to the Gunners, who looked shot-shy in Sunday's dismal 3-0 defeat to leaders Chelsea.

With the North Londoners now 11 points behind their capital rivals, albeit with a game in hand, Wenger accepts he needs to strengthen his attack despite going on record to saying he is well covered in that area.

Wenger is a confirmed admirer of Marouane Chamakh and realises the time could be right to tempt Bordeaux into selling the highly-rated forward.

Chamakh hoped to leave the French champions in the summer and is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Les Girondins are safely through in the Champions League, in some style, but realise the Moroccan will be free to leave for nothing on a Bosman and could even agree a pre-contract with a Premier League club in January.

Wenger clearly has a big decision to make in terms of his striking targets.

Chamakh is ineligible for the Champions League but that did not stop the Frenchman buying Andriy Arshavin last January.

Other targets forwarded in the French media include Toulouse's Andre-Pierre Gignac and Ruud van Nistelrooy of Real Madrid.

France international Gignac may not be too keen to change clubs, and leagues, with the World Cup on the horizon while van Nistelrooy, like Chamakh, is cup-tied in Europe.

It all means Wenger will carefully assess his options before taking another plunge in the market.

Chamakh is thought to prefer a New Year switch so Bordeaux can obtain a fee for his services but Wenger played hardball over the figures last summer and knows he is in a stronger position now with time running out on the 25-year-old's contract.

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