Graham Barrett, an 18-year-old Dubliner, may make his full Arsenal debut in the club's crucial English Premiership clash with Manchester United next Monday.
Barrett, who before he came off the bench for the last seven minutes against Sunderland on Saturday had precisely 60 seconds experience of first-team football, may find himself partnering Thierry Henry at Old Trafford.
With Dennis Bergkamp injured, Davor Suker suspended and Nwanko Kanu away on African Nations Cup duty with Nigeria, Arsenal will have only one recognised striker available.
"Barrett has a good chance of playing if we don't buy anybody in the meantime," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger following Saturday's comprehensive 4-1 win over Sunderland at Highbury.
"But I can't exclude a new signing at the moment and if there is an opportunity I will take it. To go into such a big game you really need two main strikers."
Whether or not Wenger buys another forward this week, he will go to Old Trafford knowing his squad is starting to acquire sufficient depth to challenge United on their own terms.
On Saturday, with two goals each from Henry and Suker, Arsenal brought themselves to within one point of leaders Leeds United while they have now the same number of points as Manchester United, although they have played three more games than the defending champions.
Meanwhile, Celtic officials yesterday reacted with some enthusiasm to Roy Keane's statement that Parkhead will be his preferred destination when he eventually moves from Manchester United.
In an interview given before he left Rio de Janeiro at the end of United's ill-fated challenge for the World Club Championship, Keane said: "In a few years' time, I wouldn't mind playing for Celtic. I'm not one for looking too far forward. But in two or three years time, if I'm still playing at a high level it could be an option.
"I have another three years left in my new contract and whether I'm still in United's team at that time, remains to be seen."
Celtic, for whom another Cork man, Colin Healy, played against Fortuna Dusseldorf in the Algarve on Saturday, are keen to reinforce their Irish connection in terms of staff and as such, Keane's arrival at the club, would be interpreted as a huge boost at Parkhead.
On the incident which led to him damaging his cruciate ligament in a game against Leeds United in October, 1997, Keane said: "Although I cursed my luck at the time, that injury actually helped me as a person and a player. It was a stupid thing. We were losing and their lad (Alf Inge Haaland) was winding me up and I just reacted. "My game has changed a lot as a result of that experience. I don't get involved like I used to and I'm hopeful, I will be a better player for it."
