Things are going from bad to worse for Arsenal, as Kai Havertz has suffered a hamstring injury during the club’s training camp in Dubai. According to the latest reports, the German forward is expected to miss the remainder of the season which is a devastating blow for Mikel Arteta’s side.
This fresh setback adds to Arsenal’s growing list of attacking injuries. Gabriel Jesus is already sidelined until the summer with an ACL injury, Bukayo Saka is recovering from a hamstring issue, and Gabriel Martinelli recently picked up a muscle injury that will keep him out until the end of March.
Arsenal’s attacking department is now in complete disarray, especially after the club chose not to sign any new forwards during the January transfer window. Arteta and his the clubs hierarchy had placed their trust in the existing squad, but with several key players now unavailable, the Gunners have dug themselves a big hole.
How Will Arteta Reshuffle His Attack After This Fresh Injury to Kai Havertz?
With Kai Havertz and Jesus ruled out for the long term, Arsenal’s options in attack have become extremely limited. Currently, Mikel Arteta has only two fit senior attackers—Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard, alongside 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri.
Trossard is expected to take up the left-wing role, while Sterling and Nwaneri are capable of playing on the right. However, the biggest dilemma is the centre-forward position, with no senior natural No. 9 available at the moment.
Bukayo Saka has started light training, offering a glimmer of hope to his manager, but the England is not expected to return before late March. Once fit, he will play on the right, allowing Sterling to operate centrally. Until then, Arteta needs to be creative with his team selection and tactics.
One possible solution is deploying Trossard as a makeshift striker while shifting a midfielder to the right wing. Another tactical option could be adopting a false nine system, similar to the approach Pep Guardiola successfully implemented at Man City a few seasons ago.
While Kai Havertz has not been prolific, the German has still managed 15 goals this season. His absence means the remaining forwards must step up significantly if Arsenal are to maintain their title challenge.
Arsenal fans were already frustrated by their club’s inactivity in the January transfer window, and these fresh injury setbacks will only add to their concerns. The Gunners have already been eliminated from both the FA Cup and the EFL Cup, and with such a thin squad, their Premier League campaign is also at serious risk of derailing.
