Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may have to play Alexis Sanchez as a no.9 for the start of the new season.

The Gunners are struggling to recruit a new striker this summer which could prompt Wenger to deploy Chilean forward Sanchez in a more central position, according to the Daily Mail.

Arsenal have been hunting for an attacker in the current transfer window but have been unable to land their main target in Alexandre Lacazette.

Sanchez is back training with the Gunners after an extended break and will travel to Scandinavia for their final pre-season matches against FK Viking in Stavanger on Friday and Manchester City in Gothenburg on Sunday.

With Olivier Giroud not yet ready for action after playing in the Euro2016 final for France, Danny Welbeck sidelined by injury and Theo Walcott expected to play as a winger, Wenger could be forced to play Sanchez centrally in the opening few weeks of the Premier League campaign.

The North Londoners kick-off the new season with a home fixture against Liverpool on August 14.