According to Metro, Arsenal have been hit with a stumbling block in their transfer plans, as their reported £12 million bid for Real Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann has been turned down, and it remains to be seen whether the London based club will return with a further bid.

Arsene Wenger has made it clear to the media and Arsenal supporters that the club will be making efforts to bring in a striker to repair the damage to the frontline through injuries. Not only has Theo Walcott been declared out for the season, but Olivier Giroud and Nicklas Bendtner have also been hit with injury setbacks, putting Arsenal’s title surge into serious jeopardy. With the club leading the Barclays Premier League coming into this weekend although now are a point behind Chelsea after their win over Hull, Wenger will know the importance of making every attempt to bring in fresh legs into the squad. The January window always brings a difficult tasks for clubs, as transfers become difficult due to the fact that the selling club becomes weak without considerable chances of a replacement.

Arsenal face Aston Villa on Monday night and the Gunners supporters will hope to see their side take over first spot, and get some good news on the transfers front through the week.

Sociedad have demanded a fee of nearly £24 million, and with Arsenal’s tight purse string policy over the years, it seems unlikely that Wenger would spend that amount on one player of Griezmann’s quality.