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Arsene Wenger: No Arsenal swoop for 6ft 7in striker Nikola Zigic

Arsene Wenger has dismissed reports linking Arsenal with a shock move for former Birmingham City striker Nikola Zigic.

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With Olivier Giroud out until January with a broken tibia, Wenger had been expected to take a late delve into the transfer market in order to bolster his attacking options.

Manchester United's Danny Welbeck was among those linked with a switch to Emirates Stadium, while a more surprising swoop for 6 feet 7 inches Zigic was also mooted by his agent Milan Calasan, who claimed on Wednesday to have spoken to Wenger.

But after watching his side beat Besiktas to earn a place in the Champions League group stage for the 17th successive season, Wenger said Zigic was not on his radar and insisted that he believes the Gunners do not need to sign another striker.

Asked about reported interest in Zigic, Wenger responded: "Who? Zigic? No.

"You will ask me straight away who we will buy. I give you the answer -- at the moment, no one. If you want to make everyone happy you buy all of these players but what is important is the performance on the football pitch.

"If you look at the players we had on the bench and those out injured, we have players. You cannot buy every time a player is injured.

"We are open for any position as long as we feel the player can strengthen the squad. Buy to buy? I don't see the purpose of that."

Zigic, 33, is a free agent after leaving Birmingham City following the expiry of his contract in the summer.