Arsenal youngster Arturo Lupoli is amongst the strikers on Joe Royle's loan short-list. The 18-year-old has scored five goals for the Gunners reserves against Town during 2005, including a hat-trick in their 4-2 victory 10 days ago.

Royle says that the Italian is one of a number of potential targets: “I won't deny that Lupoli is a player I have asked about, but there are also two or three others.

“Lupoli has been away with the Italian U19s and it is a question of whether Arsenal would be willing to let us borrow him."

The Italian youngsters have been in Kiev playing a friendly with the Ukraine.

Born in Brescia, Lupoli joined Arsenal just over a year ago and top-scored in FA Premier Reserve League last season with 19 goals.

The striker has made four senior starts for the Gunners, three in the Carling Cup and one in the FA Cup. He scored twice in the Londoners' 3-1 Carling Cup victory over Everton last season.

Royle is after two loanees, a striker and a midfielder to replace Ian Westlake, but is now unlikely to make any additions to his squad before Sunday's derby.

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