Mikel Arteta recently admitted Arsenal may be in the market for a free agent to solve their striker problems - and that wouldn't be totally unchartered territory for the Gunners.
Arteta, 42, is in a difficult position after Kai Havertz tore his hamstring during the north Londoners' warm-weather training camp in Dubai. The ex-Chelsea forward joins Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the Arsenal injury list.
Against Leicester City, Mikel Merino, who was signed from Real Sociedad to provide cover at defensive midfielder, scored a brace when he was thrown up front by Arteta. While the Spaniard had the Midas touch against the Foxes, the Arsenal boss could still make a play in the free agent market to find a more orthodox solution to their injury issues in the forward areas.
As the Gunners ponder their situation, Mirror Football looks back on two surprising free signings Arsenal have made in the past.
Sol Campbell
Nobody will ever forget then Tottenham Hotspur captain Sol Campbell departing White Hart Lane to join Arsenal on a free transfer in 2001. However, many may have forgotten the time Campbell re-signed for the north Londoners in January 2010.
At the time, Campbell was without a club after a doomed spell with Notts County. The England international did not even last a month before he realised swapping Portsmouth for the Magpies in the summer of 2009 was a mistake.
Four months of free agency came to an end when Wenger brought Campbell in from the cold on a free transfer until the end of the season. The then 35-year-old passed a trial period and impressed in a practice match. He made 11 appearances and even popped up with a goal in a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City.
Mathieu Flamini
Flamini's first spell at the Gunners between 2004 and 2008 convinced AC Milan to sign the Frenchman when his deal in north London expired. Five years later, the roles reversed, as Wenger brought him back to the Emirates Stadium when Milan released him.
He proved to be a bargain as he played a huge role for Arsenal for three seasons, winning the 2014 and 2015 FA Cup. Flamini made 93 appearances in his second spell, scoring five goals and assisting one. Considering the amount of matches he played, Arteta will hope any free agent will be as much of a bargain as Flamini.
Mikel Arteta's free targets
The old adage dictates one must keep their friends close but their enemies closer - and Diego Costa may be a solution for Arsenal. Options are limited for the Gunners, but there are few strikers with Premier League experience in the free agent field.
Despite his poor spell at Wolves, Costa is still a natural born finisher who also provides bite, aggression and a mastery of the dark arts that all winners have. Another option could be a reunion with Carlos Vela, who contributed 11 goals and eight assists in 62 appearances between 2008 and 2011.
Vela did prove to be a goal machine in Major League Soccer, finding the net on 78 occasions and assisting 42 goals, but at the age of 35, he is far from an ideal option.