Without him, the burden falls on Olivier Giroud, who has scored once this season, and Alexis Sanchez, who hasn’t scored any, as Wenger’s senior front two, although Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey have consistently backed up with goals from midfield in the past.

Wenger said Arsenal did want to sign a forward but couldn’t find one to improve the squad.

“It’s about finding an efficient solution,” he said. “They don’t just drop down from heaven.”

Asked about Giroud’s start to the season — he was jeered by French fans for a series of missed chances in France’s friendly against Serbia on Monday — he replied: “I have confidence in the ability and quality of our strikers.

“Of course I’m confident that I have enough cover and enough quality.”

The last time Arsenal failed to score in their opening two league matches was in the old First Division in August 1979 when they lost 2-0 to Ipswich Town and drew 0-0 with Manchester United at Highbury — the same sequence they have had this season with a 2-0 loss to West Ham followed by the draw with Liverpool.

If they are looking for omens, their third home game ended in a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, a result that would delight everyone connected with the club this weekend.

*Reuters