With fellow strikers Nicklas Bendtner currently sidelined after undergoing groin surgery, the only other recognised striker to lead the front line is Eduardo, who has started only three league games this season and, based on his performance on his last outing, seems rusty at best.

Also, Eduardo’s game differs from Van Persie as the Croat is really a natural finisher, whereas Van Persie is more a creator and a link between captain Cesc and the other front men.

Van Persie’s versatility and style suits the more fluid tactics of manager Arsene Wenger, which explains why the Frenchman is loath to even give him a rest between hectic schedules.

Now, given Van Persie’s lay-off, Eduardo will certainly have more game time. But more importantly, Wenger will have to change his tactical approach.

Wide men like Andrei Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky will not be allowed to drift across the front as freely as they have been because Eduardo’s limited passing range will not find them.

Instead, they will have to be more disciplined in holding their front-line shape to find the more static Eduardo, whose best position is in the opposition penalty box.

This may limit Arsenal’s fluidity and movement to the extent that opposition central defenders will have an easier time picking up the attacking threat.

This may also mean Fabregas will have to hold back from attacking the opposition penalty area as he has been accustomed to with great effect this season as Eduardo is unlikely to feed his runs in the way Van Persie has.

In all, Eduardo’s inclusion in the team will mean a less fluid Arsenal. It will take away that one great asset Wenger has and has used to great effect in destroying the opposition this season.

So for the remainder of November and December, it is likely that Arsenal will struggle.

Gone will be their free-scoring days when an average of three goals would be expected whenever the Gunners play at home. More likely they will have to hunker down to some hard grafting in midfield to create opportunities up front.

Come January, if Van Persie recovers his fitness, Arsene may not feel the need to shop for a replacement forward. However, the fact that Van Persie has shown that he is not invincible will surely mean that Wenger will need a capable back-up in case another tragedy strikes his Dutch forward.

For now, until January, the only good news is that the midfield keeps gaining strength with Samir Nasri, Fran Merida, Jack Wilshere and Denilson all looking poised to make an impact.

But the lack of cover for the outstanding Alexandre Song remains a concern. It cannot have escaped Arsene’s notice that in the last outing against Wolves, the midfield was being over-run until Song showed up.

In January, with Song on African Cup of Nations duty, Arsene will need to find another who can cover.

Ex-captain Patrick Vieira seems the likely candidate, although if Mahamadou Diarra wasn’t going to the same tournament, I would have liked to see him playing for the Gunners.

Diarra is now back-up to his namesake at Real Madrid and may relish a chance to play in England. But I digress.

For now, Arsenal will have to deal with Van Persie’s absence the best they can. If Eduardo falls injured, as may be expected through the tough winter campaign, it seems Arsenal will be in dire straits with only the inexperienced pairing of Carlos Vela and the promising Herschel Watt as cover.

It may well be a long and hard winter for the Gunners.