Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is interested in signing former Arsenal captain Thierry Henry on a short-term loan deal.
The 34-year-old has been training with his former club during the Major League Soccer off-season, and he is not due back at the New York Red Bulls until March.
Wenger faces losing strikers Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh to the month-long Africa Cup of Nations, which starts at the end of January.
"Short term is ideal, but I haven't made any enquiry yet," Wenger said. "I have to think about [making an offer for Henry].
"January 1 is the vital date for us. We have seven days to make decisions and I will make a decision in the next seven days on players."
Henry scored 226 goals in 370 games for Arsenal between 1999 and 2007, before moving to Barcelona.