UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:CESC FABREGAS has told Arsene Wenger that Arsenal require "a different kind of option" up front as the squad lacks variation in attack.

Wenger has promised to scour the January transfer market for a striker to compensate for the loss of Robin van Persie, who is out for five months with torn ankle ligaments, and Fabregas, the captain, has suggested that the club would benefit if any new signing had a more direct style. Most of Wenger’s attacking threats prefer to drop deep or wide to play.

“Throughout the game (at Manchester City in the 3-0 League Cup defeat last Wednesday), we had a lot of possession but didn’t really have anyone to go in behind the defenders, apart from Carlos Vela,” Fabregas said. “We had a lot of similar players who like the ball into their feet. Sometimes it’s true that you need a different kind of option.”

Fabregas need only look across London to see the striker who he rates as the finest in the world. Didier Drogba was at his muscular, destructive best in Chelsea’s 3-0 Premier League win at the Emirates on the Sunday before last. “Overall, I saw a Chelsea team that was normal but a team that has probably the best striker in the world,” Fabregas said.

“An average team that has the best striker in the world can always do something and Didier Drogba makes all the difference. Without him, their team would not be the same. Perhaps we had the same problem against Chelsea as the boys had at Manchester City, not really having someone whose game is to go beyond defenders, and we were a little small to fight them on crosses, too.”

Fabregas will be one of a host of big names who will not travel to Athens today for the final Champions League Group H fixture against Olympiakos tomorrow night. Arsenal are assured of advancing to the knockout phase as group winners and so Wenger will take the opportunity to blood some of his younger players.

It is expected that more than half of his 18-man party will be teenagers. Mikael Silvestre is likely to be named as the captain. Manuel Almunia, William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen, Andrey Arshavin, Samir Nasri and Denilson are among the available regulars who will stay behind.

Meanwhile, Wenger has laughed off talk linking him with a shock move for former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy has been mentioned as a possible January transfer target for Wenger as he looks to bring in a new striker.

Real Madrid are believed to be willing to let van Nistelrooy leave the Bernabeu in January as he is well down the pecking order in the Spanish capital and the player could be interested in a move away as he looks to secure his place in The Netherlands squad for next summer’s World Cup finals.

Wenger admits any move is highly unlikely considering van Nistelrooy’s popularity among Arsenal fans following a number of high-profile incidents during games between the Gunners and United.

Asked about his pursuit of a striker and the chances of signing van Nistelrooy, Wenger said: “It would not be the best of starts, bearing in mind our past relationship! You have my number – you can text me all the names you find!”

• Guardian Service