Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has previously hinted that Gabriel Martinelli can be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's long-term replacement.
The Gunners were keen to find a successor to the Gabon international this month and football.london previously reported that they were open to offers for Aubameyang, who was stripped of the club captaincy last month.
Technical director Edu had been chasing Dusan Vlahovic before the 21-year-old opted to sign for Serie A giants Juventus instead, leaving the Brazilian transfer chief scrambling to find a replacement before Monday night's deadline, with Real Sociedad's Alexander Isak one of many strikers linked.
However, with just hours left before the window shuts, it seems unlikely that any forwards will be coming in, leaving Arteta with the exiled Aubameyang and out-of-contract frontmen Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette as his only out and out centre-forwards.
Still, the former Manchester City assistant coach has previously claimed that Brazilian starlet Martinelli could be a striker despite operating on the left-wing for the majority of his time in north London.
"[Aubameyang and Martinelli] are centre forwards but with the squad balance that we have at the moment, to play on those positions on the left we don’t have five players," Arteta said after a 1-0 win against West Ham United back in 2020.
Martinelli himself admitted to Marca in February 2020 that he preferred to be deployed from the flank instead.
"I really like playing on the left end," the youngster said. "It is my favourite position. I give myself to the maximum for the team.
"I always give 100% for my team to end the game winning."
The 20-year-old has enjoyed a productive campaign with the Gunners, notching four goals and two assists in just ten Premier League starts so far this term.
