Arsene Wenger is searching  for a striker in the January transfer window as   a replacement for injured striker Robin van Persie.

Van persie has suffered an ankle ligament injury while on international duty and is now facing surgery andover four months on the sidelines.

The dutchman’s absence has left the Gunners short of firepower and they have limped to defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea to leave doubts in their Premier League title challenge .

Among those rumoured to be on Arsenal boss list are  Bordeaux’s Marouane Chamakh and Real Madrid’s Ruud van Nistelroo.

according to the club’s website : “Van Persie’s injury has to affect my thoughts for January. I didn’t feel we were needing to buy anybody but we will be out in the market, that is for sure.”

England have been confirmed among the top eight seeds for Friday’s draw for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Reports had suggested that  Capello’s team were in danger of missing out on a top seed spot , but those fears have died.

However, 1998 winners and 2006 finalists France, who secured their place at the tournament with a controversial play-off win over Republic of Ireland, are not one of the top seeds.

Fifa’s World Cup organising committee used the world rankings from October to determine who would be in Pot 1, with England having been seventh in the standings at that time.

Joining England as top seeds for Friday’s draw are hosts South Africa, four times champions Italy and five-time winners Brazil.

European champions Spain, Holland, Germany and Argentina will also come out of Pot 1 for the first-round stage.

Those who also  missed out on top billing are  Portugal, who are in  Pot 4 alongside Denmark, Greece, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Switzerland.

Decision

Pot 2 comprises teams from the Asian, Oceania and Concacaf federations, with Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Honduras, Mexico, USA and New Zealand those teams involved.

The remaining African nations are in pot 3 – Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria  along with Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay from South America.

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So, hosts South Africa will not face one any African teams from Pot 3, while Argentina or Brazil will not meet a fellow South American side.

Seedings:

Pot 1 – Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Holland, Italy,South Africa and Spain.

Pot 2 - Australia, Japan, North Korea,  Honduras, Mexico,  New Zealand,   South Korea & USA.

Pot 3 – Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay

Pot 4 - Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerla