Arsenal will sign a striker this month- Keown

Former Arsenal centre-back Martin Keown believes Arsene Wenger will sign a striker before the end of the transfer window.

The Gunners boss was on the hunt for a striker earlier in the summer when he triggered Jamie Vardy’s release clause with a £20million bid ahead of the European Championships.

However, the 29-year-old decided to stay with champions Leicester, penning a four-year extension on £100,000 a week.

Whether Wenger is still actively pursuing another forward is debatable after his reported move for Alexandre Lacazette also failed. Carlos Bacca, Romelu Lukuku, Mauro Icardi and Gonzalo Higuain have all been linked with big-money moves to The Emirates and Keown, 50, thinks Wenger will splash the cash in the next two weeks.

“I do believe that Wenger will make a signing in that area before the window closes,” he told the Daily Star.

Keown, who won three Premier League titles with the Gunners, also believes frontman Olivier Giroud is under-rated after impressing for France at Euro 2016.

“I think his stock grew in the Euros, he was one of the best strikers. Wenger will have drawn from that and it will give Giroud more belief.

“Giroud is following in the footsteps of some very good Arsenal players. Robin van Persie, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and the fans want to see a striker like them.

“These days you need electric pace, power and goalscoring abilities and Giroud is a different type of striker,” added Keown.