Arsenal need a world class striker before the end of this transfer window. They can't rely on Olivier Giroud to be consistent enough whilst playing Theo Walcott or Alexis Sanchez through the middle is not going to do. The Gunners could be in real danger of finishing outside the top four at the end of this season if they fail to sign a player to guarantee them 20+ goals a season.

The Emirates faithful are all too aware of the plight that their club could be facing over the next nine months but with their calls for the men in charge to splash the cash so far falling on deaf ears, things are getting desperate. The men from north London have been linked with Alexandre Lacazette for some time but any deal is yet to go through and with the Frenchman looking settled at Lyon - he scored a hat-trick in their first league fixture over the weekend - the Gunners may have to look elsewhere.

But it's not all doom and gloom, Arsenal fans, we’ve teamed up with 7 Of The Best to bring you a footballing treat for the coming campaign. It’s free to play and the best team each week wins £1,500, as well as monthly prize of £4,000 for the best individual. Want to win bigger? Nab yourself a whopping £500k if you get all seven of your selections correct for seven consecutive weeks.

How do you play? All you need to do is pick seven teams each week, one being your banker, five being teams you expect to win and one you believe will draw.

In the 7 of the best spirit, then, here are SEVEN Lacazette alternatives that Arsene Wener should be looking at...

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Mauro Icardi

Another player that has been linked with a switch to the Emirates this Summer, Mauro Icardi would likely compliment what the Gunners already have in their armoury. Olivier Giroud isn't going to fire the team to glory by himself but if he has players around him of the calibre and work-rate of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Icardi he'd be alright. The Argentine can also play through the middle himself and would certainly make the side more mobile at the very head of the attack.

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Munir

Munir looks to be a very impressive player coming through at Barcelona but with Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar ahead of him in the queue to play up front, he's inevitably going to find playing time limited. He's certainly the kind of player Arsene Wenger will feel he can work with and with the promise of more first team action than at the Nou Camp, it could be enough to secure the young forward.

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Mario Mandzukic

Mandzukic is a top European striker and would be an improvement on what the Gunners have in Giroud. The Croatian is powerful, a real aerial threat and has played for some of the best sides in the game. Then when you consider he could see his playing time depleted at Juventus behind new signing Gonzalo Higuain a deal could become a real possiblity. He'd be far cheaper than Lacazette too and so that would surely please Wenger.

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Javier Hernandez

Hernandez simply knows where the goal is, what more do you need from a striker? The little Mexican has Premier League quality and despite not getting as much of a chance as he would have liked at Manchester United, he certainly left a good impression. It was enough for Bayer Leverkusen to take a punt on him which he has duly repaid and with him now in his prime at 28-years-old, it could be an inspired signing.

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Karim Benzema

He may not have been at EURO 2016 but you can't argue that if had he been, France would have won the trophy instead of Portugal. He's a world class forward and regardless of cost he's also the kind of player Arsenal need. Wenger can say that the value of players is ridiculous right now and whilst he may be right it's not going to win them any trophies. Real Madrid are planning for the future in keeping hold of Alvaro Morata so it's surely time Arsene tests the water.

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Shane Long

Now this is a real alternative. Long surely won't command the fee of Lacazette and he's in his prime. The Southampton man has pace to burn and can score all types of different goals and would genuinely make Arsenal harder to handle than when Giroud plays. Defenders hate pace and if Wenger wants a Lacazette type player without the Lacazette type fee, Long is the man.

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Edinson Cavani

Time is running out for the Uruguayan if he wants to test himself in England. Cavani has scored goals wherever he's been and knows exactly how to work in a forward three - perfect for the Gunners way of playing. He's got pace, he's great with both feet and also has a fierce work rate and would surely be welcome with open arms by Gunners fans. It's getting to the point where Arsenal just need a top striker regardless of age and the PSG man fits the bill.

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