Injury woes have Gunners eyeing help

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will step up his efforts to sign a centerback this month after losing Mathieu Debuchy to a dislocated shoulder during Sunday's 3-0 victory over Stoke.

Wenger insists a central defender was already his priority but the need to strengthen his defensive options was reinforced by the loss of France international Debuchy and the continuing absence of England leftback Kieran Gibbs.

Wenger was unable to say how long rightback Debuchy would be out following his collision with Stoke's Marko Arnautovic on Sunday, but with Gibbs still suffering from an ankle injury, the Gunners squad is once again getting stretched.