Arsenal will be without England forward Danny Welbeck for several months after he underwent surgery on a knee problem.
The 24-year-old, signed from Manchester United on deadline day in September 2014, last played for the Gunners in April, missing both the FA Cup final and end-of-season internationals.
Despite hopes Welbeck would be able to recover from bone bruising around the knee, Arsenal announced in a statement on Thursday the player had needed an operation and was now set for an extended spell of rehabilitation.
With the decision to operate having come last week, there would have still been time for Arsenal to move in the transfer window to bolster the attacking options.
Arsenal had long been linked with a move for Karim Benzema at Real Madrid and then Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani from Paris St Germain.
However, the deadline passed with no further additions to Wenger's squad apart from veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech, who arrived earlier in the summer from Chelsea.
The Gunners recovered from losing their opening Barclays Premier League match at home to West Ham, winning two of the three games since.
Midfielder Jack Wilshere continues his recovery from a hairline fracture in the left fibula and could be back in contention when domestic action resumes at home to Stoke on 12 September.
With Welbeck now sidelined for an extended spell, more opportunities could be forthcoming for Theo Walcott to operate in his preferred central role.
The England forward started ahead of Olivier Giroud at Newcastle, but failed to find the target with the chances created for him.
Walcott, 26, has confidence he can perform wherever selected across the Arsenal frontline.
"I think you'll see a mixture of me playing in those three positions, on the left, right and centre, depending on how the game is and who the opposition is. That's why the manager is the best man to pick his team. I've shown the manager what I can do on the left, right and centre," Walcott said in an interview on the Arsenal Weekly podcast.
"It's obviously well documented that I want to play up front but there's a lot of competition for places here. I will do my best in any position when I am given the opportunity to play for this club. I will always be judged on goals and assists but I feel like I would score a lot of goals up front."
