Arsenal lose Danny Welbeck 'for months' after knee surgery

Welbeck has not featured for Arsenal since the 0-0 draw with Chelsea on April 26 and had been working hard over the summer to return to fitness.

[OPINION: Arsenal blew it in the transfer market after a wasted summer]

However, his injury has not responded well and Arsenal decided to send him under the knife.

A club statement said: "It had been hoped he would avoid surgery but after increasing his training workload, the injury to his cartilage did not respond as well as hoped and the decision was taken last week for him to undergo surgery by a leading specialist in the field.

"Danny is now expected to be out for a period of months and everyone at Arsenal wishes him well."

Arsenal opted not to sign a new striker before the transfer window closed on Tuesday despite a start to the new season which has seen them score just one conventional goal in four games, with a further two own goals assisting their efforts.

Olivier Giroud started the season as first-choice centre-forward before Theo Walcott was brought into the starting XI for the weekend's 1-0 win over Newcastle, which came courtesy of an own goal from Fabricio Coloccini.

Welbeck joined Arsenal for £16 million on deadline day 12 months ago and has scored eight goals for the club in 34 appearances.

Arsenal seemed careful to mention in the statement that the decision was taken last week - before the transfer window closed. It is a detail which is presumably meant to guard the club against 'told you so' accusations from fans resentful that no striker was signed. Also, had they announced the injury prior to Tuesday, the pressure from supporters to get a new name through the door would have been even more intense.

However, prior knowledge of the Welbeck blow just makes Arsenal's failure to sign a new striker even more perplexing. Read more on that decision here.