Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn has expressed his belief that Arsene Wenger won't "panic buy" in the January transfer market despite finding himself with a lack of fit strikers.

Theo Walcott has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a ruptured ACL, joining Olivier Giroud and Nicklas Bendtner on the sidelines and leaving the Gunners without a recognised centre-forward.

However, Winterburn is confident that Wenger will not rush into the transfer market and will only bring in a new player if he finds someone that fits into the current set-up.

"For me they need a recognised centre-forward to compliment Giroud if he picked up an injury or he had a loss of form," Winterburn told Sky Sports News.

"I don't think, because Theo's out, that Arsene Wenger will naturally go into the transfer market.

"If he can find a centre-forward that plays in the Barclays Premier League or if he can find someone who he thinks can really complement the squad, then he would go into the transfer market and get that player but I don't think Arsene Wenger tends to panic buy."

Arsenal's next match comes on Monday 13 when they face Aston Villa in the Premier League.