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Wenger rules out panic buy as Giroud gloom descends

Arsene Wenger is braced for gloomy news as Arsenal await a specialist's verdict on the tibia injury that could leave Olivier Giroud facing a significant spell on the sidelines, but the manager insists he will not be forced into the transfer market to replace his lead striker.

Giroud has been ruled out of Wednesday night's crucial Champions League qualifier against Besiktas with the injury sustained in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Everton.

It has been reported by L'Equipe the 27-year-old could be absent for two to three months with a broken foot, robbing Arsenal of their first choice forward just four games into the season. And the news could be even worse, with other reports claiming he will be out of action until next year.

Wenger may be forced into the transfer market in search of a replacement if Giroud is his worst fears are realised and has been heavily linked with Manchester United's Danny Welbeck and Queens Park Rangers' Loic Remy. Wenger, however, says he will nto panic buy before the window closes on Monday.

"We have plenty of players at centre forward. In England as soon as you have a problem, people want you to buy,'' he said. "Unfortunately, I can give you some clubs that every time they lose a game they say they might need to buy more.

"We are 24 hours from a big game and our focus is more on that than the transfer window. I've learnt one thing in our job - you say nothing categorically.''

Arsenal are likely to find out the extent of Giroud's injury just hours before they take on Besiktas, whose forward line will again be spearheaded by former West Ham, Newcastle and Chelsea striker Demba Ba.

"On Sunday he [Giroud] had a medical check and he needed to have further investigations,'' Wenger explained. "The first news wasn't fantastic, but I'm not a doctor so I wait for tomorrow's [Wednesday's] complete examination and decision over how long he'll be out for.

"It can be [long term], we'll see. I don't know [if it's broken]. It's sad for us, but for the moment we are focused on the game.''

Summer signing Alexis Sanchez could operate as the lone striker against Besiktas, although doubts have been raised over his ability to perform the role. Sanchez was replaced at half-time at Goodison Park following an ineffective 45 minutes as the focal point of Arsenal's attack, but Wenger is convinced he can operate as more than a winger.

"You do not convict a player on one half. It was not all bad what he did, there was some quality in what he did,'' Wenger said. "It was just that on the day we needed more physical presence. When you're 2-0 down you don't play counter attack.''

Yaya Sanogo, Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell are also options, although it is Sanogo, who missed out against Everton because of a hamstring injury, who is most likely to start.

Wenger, who has ruled out Podolski leaving in summer transfer window, is confident he has the options to cover for Giroud's absence in the second leg of the qualifier at Emirates Stadium.

"Yes of course, why should I not have that confidence?'' Wenger said. "Nobody can imagine that when one player is missing, no matter how big the player is, the team can't win a game any more.''

Arsenal are seeking a 17th successive season in the lucrative group stage of the Champions League, but Wenger insists it would not be a financial disaster should they fail to qualify. The first leg finished in a goalless draw in Istanbul.

"It will affect us because we'll have less income, but it will not affect our balance sheet in a dramatic way because we can survive without that,'' Wenger said. "We want to be in the Champions League because we want to play top level football.

"Financially we've always adapted. When we had small resources, we always adapted to having small resources.''

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