Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes have been dealt a significant blow with the news that star striker Kai Havertz is facing a spell on the sidelines after picking up a muscular injury during the team’s training camp in Dubai.
This latest setback leaves manager Mikel Arteta with a severe shortage of attacking options, compounding existing injury woes.
Havertz, the club’s leading scorer this season with 15 goals across all competitions, underwent assessment upon the team’s return to London on Tuesday.
While the full extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed, there are fears that the German international could miss several weeks, including the crucial away game against third-placed Nottingham Forest on February 26th.
The timing of Havertz’s injury couldn’t be worse for Arsenal.
They are already without several key players, including Gabriel Martinelli, who is expected to be out for several weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in last week’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle.
Long-term injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus have further depleted Arteta’s attacking resources.
With Havertz now also unavailable, Arsenal’s options upfront are alarmingly thin.
While Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and Ethan Nwaneri are all available, none of them are natural centre-forwards.
This leaves Arteta with a selection dilemma. He may have to turn to academy product Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, a 22-year-old who is yet to score a league goal and has limited first-team experience following loan spells at Accrington and Cheltenham.
Alternatively, Arteta could opt to promote 17-year-old sensation Ethan Nwaneri, who has impressed with seven goals in a breakthrough season.
The manager has previously hinted at Nwaneri’s potential as a No. 9, praising his goal-scoring instinct and ability to find the back of the net.
The Havertz injury is a particularly cruel twist of fate, considering Arteta’s recent praise for the striker’s resilience. Just last week, the Arsenal manager lauded Havertz’s “robustness” and dismissed concerns about his workload, highlighting his physical attributes and dedication to maintaining peak fitness.
Adding to Arsenal’s woes, there are ongoing concerns about the fitness of other key players.
While Saka traveled with the squad to Dubai and was seen working in the gym, he is still at least a month away from returning after hamstring surgery.
Defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has struggled with knee injuries this season, did not travel to Dubai and could face further surgery after experiencing multiple setbacks in his recovery.
The growing injury list presents a massive challenge for Arteta and his team as they strive to maintain their title challenge.
