Mikel Arteta reckons Emile Smith Rowe's versatility can cover for Arsenal's frailties at the top end of the pitch.
The academy graduate continued his fine season at the weekend as he scored the Gunners' opener in a 2-1 win over Brentford.
Arsenal are extremely short of strikers following the exit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah, who are both out of contract in the summer, their only two recognised no.9s at the club.
The north Londoners will dip into the market in the summer but the fact they didn't sign a striker in January is a concern held by many.
But Arteta is confident with the options at his disposal as he reckons Smith Rowe, who is Arsenal's top goalscorer this season, can also operate as a centre-forward if needed.
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He said: "I think Smith Rowe can play in four positions.
"He can play as a left-winger, he can play as a left attacking midfielder, right attacking midfielder and he can play as a 9; very, very well I think.
"The importance of Auba's goals at the club is unquestionable but we have other players and we believe we have other qualities in different ways to try to accomplish the amount of goals that we need in the team and that's what we're going to try and do.
"We have three strikers. We have Laca and we have Eddie with us and they are both more than capable of scoring goals and they have shown that over the years with us.
"Again, when we have to replace or improve the squad, it can only be with a player that we are certain of.
"First of all, that they're the right person and the right character to join and then they're a player with the quality to straight away impact the performance of the team and our capacity to build a future around him as well."
It would be no surprise to see Smith Rowe eventually deployed as a no.9 given Arteta's glowing review and Alexandre Lacazette's struggles getting the ball in the back of the net.
The skipper has led the line since Aubameyang was banished from the first team and although his hold-up play has been impressive, he is lacking that killer instinct in front of goal.
Nketiah, meanwhile, has been on the fringes of Arteta's side and Smith Rowe's potential emergence as a striker would only drop him further down the pecking order.
Smith Rowe's goal against Brentford made him the first Arsenal academy graduate to score 10 or more goals in a campaign since Cesc Fabregas.
"Wow! That's really special to hear that," he told the Gunners' website. "Yeah, that means a lot, you know? It's always been a dream to play for Arsenal so to hear that, it means a lot.
"I'm buzzing. The goals are really starting to come now but the most important thing was the three points today.
"It's a bit surreal, to be honest. Me and Bukayo [Saka] have both come from the academy, Eddie as well. To hear the fans screaming our names and scoring that today together, it's just been great."
