Nwankwo Kanu flew back to Italy today after finally ending Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's long search for a new striker.

And it could be weeks yet before the Highbury fans get their first glimpse of the 22-year-old Nigerian star who has not played competitively since November.

The new Gunner from Inter Milan first needs to obtain a British work-permit which could take up to a month to arrive.

Then he has to challenge Dennis Bergkamp and Nicolas Anelka for a place in the side although this type of challenge is nothing new to him having had to compete with six other top international strikers at Inter - including Brazilian ace Ronaldo - for two spots.

Wenger dismissed the popular suggestion that Kanu who, two years ago had major heart surgery to repair a defective cardiac valve, now also needs a cartilage operation before he can make his Arsenal debut.

But the Highbury boss admitted: "This signing is a gamble - but one well worth making because of his huge talent.

"He is a goalscorer as well as a target-man and he can also play the same role as Dennis Bergkamp just behind the main striker, but he is not another Ian Wright. He is more like Alan Smith who was a key Arsenal player who could hold the ball up and pass it intelligently."

Smith, who had to retire through knee trouble before Wenger arrived at Highbury in September 1996, scored more than 20 goals in each of Arsenal's two Championship triumphs under George Graham and was central to a whole host of other trophy successes including the Cup Winners' Cup.

Now Wenger is hopeful 6ft 2in Kanu will eventually play a similar role but admits: "His problem is that he had so few opportunities at Inter and needs time yet to come up to his true level again.

"But we have signed him for four and a half years and we are prepared to wait to see the best of him.

"If we are lucky and things go well he could even play in two or three weeks but, if it is longer than that, we can wait. I am happy to think he will be a big asset to us.

Terry Venables' reign as Crystal Palace coach ended late last night after he thrashed out an agreement with chairman Mark Goldberg. Under the terms, former England manager Venables will act as a part-time consultant to the club.

Palace's director of football Steve Coppell takes charge of team affairs again.

"We found ourselves in an impossible situation and, after a lot of very amicable talking, it became clear that it may even be beneficial to Crystal Palace for us to part company," Venables said.