Arsenal scout Brian McDermott is certain Arsène Wenger won’t be signing a striker in January.

The club reportedly tried for Karim Benzema in the summer, but no big club is going to allow a top striker leave halfway through the season so Wenger can’t be expected to sign anyone.

“The manager won’t spend unless he thinks it’s absolutely necessary,” McDermott told Sky Sports.

“The scouting structure at Arsenal is phenomenal. We all know who the top strikers in the world are. Can you get them to come? They won’t be available in January that’s an absolute certainty.”

With Arsenal near the top of the league and players due back from injury, it would be a surprise to see Wenger spend on anyone in January. Do the Gunners need any reinforcements? Arguably out wide and in midfield, but Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tomas Rosicky could all be back by the time the transfer window closes.

Whether or not Wenger signs a striker in the summer depends on who is available and how we do before the end of the season, but significant reinforcements in January are very unlikely.