Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refused to rule out making a bid for AC Milan striker Stephan El Shaarawy when the transfer window reopens in January.
El Shaarawy is seen as one of the brightest young strikers in Serie A, and currently leads the goalscoring charts in Italy.
Arsenal are on the lookout for a striker, with Wenger making a forward his number one priority in January.
Wenger admitted to being a bid admirer of El Shaarawy's talents. "El Shaarawy is a very mobile, very technical young player," he told Eurosport. "His philosophy fits perfectly with mine."
"You never know," Wenger added on the Metro when asked if he would bid for the forward in January. "I just say I love the way he plays."
Meanwhile, Jack Wilshere, who is close to committing his future to Arsenal by signing a new deal, said it is time for the players to "step up and be counted."
"We have got some great leaders in this team -- people like Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta," Wilshere told the club's official website. "But all the players can lead by example. We all have to step up now, it's a tough time but we have to stick together and be united.
"A lot of people are criticizing the manager at the moment, but there will be a time when they look at the players and ask questions of us. We don't want that, so we have to step up and be counted.
"We have to get the result, that's the main thing. We know it won't be easy, especially having just lost at Bradford.
"They can play football as well, they are desperate for a win too, down the bottom of the league. So we need to roll our sleeves up, put our foot in and do what we are good at - keeping the ball. When we create chances we know we have to take them.
"I think technically we are probably the best team out there. We keep the ball well and that's what we have to try to do against Reading. We need to try to create chances, outplay them and also remember our defensive duties.
"As soon as we lose the ball we have to win it back. As long as we have possession, the opposition can't score. That's where we start from, and then when we create chances we've got to score them."
