Olivier Giroud blow means Arsenal continue with their annual injury ritual

Zee Media Bureau/Dattaraj Thaly

New Delhi: Olivier Giroud could be out for three months after suffering an injury during Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Goodison Park. The club is waiting for results of a second scan on the ankle of the France striker, which was taken to determine the scale of damage after the swelling subsided.

Giroud's injury leaves Arsene Wenger with four options in the striking department - Alexis Sanchez, Joel Campbell, Yaya Sanogo and Lukas Podolski. Sanchez is yet to regain full form and it will take a bit more time for him to settle at his new club. Apart from that, he has been employed in a more wider role so far and the absence of Giroud might lead to him playing a more central role.

German World Cup winner Podolski is yet another experienced forward that the Gunners have. But he seems unsettled at the club and has been linked with a move away from the Emirates in the summer. But his agent has denied receiving any offers from Napoli or Juventus.

Sanogo, who got off to a great start in the pre-season tour, has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. After his heroics at the World Cup, Campbell was recalled by Wenger after his loan spell in Greece. But he is not experienced enough to shoulder the burden of the Premier League and Champions League.

The 27-year-old Giroud joined the North London club from French side Montpellier in 2012. His best season arrived last year when he netted 16 goals after starting in 36 games.

Giroud started from the bench against Everton and was brought on in the second half in place of Sanchez who proved to be ineffective. The Frenchman immediately changed the course of the match creating several chances and even scored a last minute to grab a point for the Gunners.

Wenger has until September 1 to bolster his squad with another striker. The club is faced with a tricky situation with their main centre forward facing three months out of action and time running out in the transfer window.