Arsene Wenger may have been looking to sign a striker all summer, but he might want to pay attention to some of his defensive problems after this.
The Gunners were handed a massive blow today, as German defender Per Mertesacker was ruled out for the next five months due to a knee injury. Arsenal's medical staff hasn't decided if the center back will need surgery to recover, but his absence will complicate things for Le Prof before the season begins.
The 31-year-old defender was set to become one of the team's captains, leaving the squad without one of their main leaders.
Mertesacker has played 208 games for the Gunners since 2011, scoring eight goals across all competitions.
Mertesacker's injury might force Wenger to search for a suitable replacement, considering that Gabriel, Calum Chambers and Laurent Koscielny will be his only options to replace the German. Furthermore, the French defender will likely miss the opening game of the season, since Le Prof wants him to recover after a busy summer with Les Bleus.
Wenger's transfer plans were focused on signing a striker, with bids for Jamie Vardy and Alexander Lacazette snubbed by Leicester City and Lyon, respectively. This setback may give him the chance to add some talent to the team, even if he wasn't planning on it in the first place.
