Arsenal have been left fearing that lead striker Olivier Giroud will be out until almost December with an ankle injury.

The France forward has been undergoing scans on his left foot, after suffering an injury during a 2-2 draw against Everton on Saturday, and there are fears that he has fractured a bone, which would leave him out for three months.

If the injury is that bad, then Arsene Wenger will have to seriously reconsider his striking options for the new season.

He has started Giroud and new signing Alexis Sanchez at centre-forward so far this year, and bad news may force him to keep Lukas Podolski or pursue another striker in the final week of the transfer window, such as Queens Park Rangers’ Loic Remy, who has a release clause that would bring him well within Arsenal’s price range.