Arsenal concern striker Kai Havertz might miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring damage.
Havertz injured his hamstring throughout a coaching camp in Dubai and it means Arsenal now haven’t any recognised strikers at present absolutely match as they bid to shut the hole to Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The German returned to London with the remainder of the squad on Tuesday evening and the damage will proceed to be assessed on Wednesday and Thursday. Mikel Arteta is predicted to offer an replace on the damage at his information convention on Friday.
Arsenal have already misplaced Gabriel Jesus for the remainder of the season after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage of their FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.
The Gunners even have Gabriel Martinelli out for the following month with a hamstring drawback sustained of their Carabao Cup semi-final loss to Newcastle.
Gabriel Martinelli limped off injured in final week’s loss to Newcastle within the Carabao Cup semi-finals
Arsenal have additionally been with out Bukayo Saka since December 21 with a hamstring subject – although the England winger was a part of the Gunners’ coaching squad in Dubai and will return to motion in March.
However, till then, Arsenal should navigate being and not using a recognised centre-forward choice – having chosen to not add anybody in that space throughout the January switch window.
Arteta revealed the membership’s need to strengthen up entrance and a late bid for Ollie Watkins was rejected by Aston Villa within the remaining week of January.
‘It is a nightmare for Arsenal – season appears to be like nigh-on not possible’
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Alan Smith believes that Arsenal’s title likelihood is ‘nigh-on not possible’ with studies that Kai Havertz might miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring damage.
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith on Sky Sports activities Information:
All people was saying you might afford to lose some, however you may’t afford to lose Kai Havertz.
With Gabriel Jesus being out for the remainder of the season, I all the time thought Arsenal wanted a centre-forward anyway even when he, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli had been match. It’s kind of of a nightmare for the Gunners if he’ll be out for the remainder of the marketing campaign.
Will probably be a case of blending and matching now – Leandro Trossard has performed as a false 9, he is finished it this season. Raheem Sterling could must chip in in a means he hasn’t finished to this point. He is been a bit disappointing since he is are available in.
Nevertheless it was going to be laborious for Arsenal on this title push, it was an outdoor likelihood they might reel in Liverpool – now it appears to be like nigh-on not possible. For this season, you are questioning – with what they have – how they will make a hit of it. The Champions League as effectively appears to be like actually troublesome.
You may level to the truth that Manchester Metropolis received the Premier League as soon as and not using a centre-forward, however that they had somewhat bit extra in reserve than Arsenal have gotten now. It is a key level within the season, perhaps a degree that simply ended hope and optimism.
Evaluation: The place on earth do Arsenal go now?
Sky Sports activities’ Sam Blitz:
It was the information Arsenal followers dreaded within the wake of their fruitless January switch window. The week after the closure of a market the place the Gunners did not strengthen their ahead line, Arsenal might lose the one striker choice they had been relying on for the remainder of the season.
If Arsenal’s activity to shut down Liverpool was powerful, now it’s even harder. With Arne Slot’s facet having Mohamed Salah as essentially the most in-form participant in Europe, Cody Gakpo turning up in large moments, plus Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez within the wings – the Gunners are working out of armoury.
Gabriel Jesus suffered a season-ending knee damage within the FA Cup loss to Manchester United in January
The place do Arsenal go now? By way of including, the Gunners might enter the free-transfer market to see if there are any short-term choices on the market. However, in fact, if Arsenal did not act when the market was open, will they actually enter panic mode with the window shut?
The almost certainly choice is coping with what they’ve – and people choices are slim. Not solely do Arsenal have their two first-choice centre-forwards out for the season, additionally they have simply three ahead gamers match of their squad in Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri and on-loan Chelsea ahead Raheem Sterling.
All three are contenders to play up entrance of their subsequent sport in opposition to Leicester on Saturday. Trossard performed because the No 9 within the Champions League win over Girona, whereas Arteta has branded the No 9 function as a possible full-time place for Nwaneri sooner or later – although the 17-year-old’s greatest outings have come out extensive.
Sterling can be an choice having performed the ultimate jiffy of the 5-1 win over Man Metropolis in that place, plus he has the historical past of turning out in a central function with England.
However the true place Arsenal are heading in direction of is remorse. Simply how did they find yourself on this situation? Their January exercise will come beneath scrutiny however it might additionally go additional again to the gross sales of Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe plus the mortgage exits of Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson.
All 4 could be wanted on this Arsenal workforce now. All of the above causes left their first-choice entrance three with an excessive amount of to do. All three are actually injured.
Arsenal’s accidents in numbers
Arsenal usually are not the one workforce to have suffered damage issues this season. The truth is, they’re in the midst of the Premier League desk for accidents for the time being.
They won’t get a lot sympathy from north London rivals Tottenham about their present plight.
However it’s the severity of the accidents that units Arsenal other than most. Their gamers have missed practically 650 days as a consequence of damage – and counting – which is effectively above the Premier League common and is the fifth-highest among the many top-flight golf equipment.
Additionally it is the kind of gamers Arsenal are lacking, with nearly all of the Gunners’ injured gamers attacking choices. Saka, Havertz and Martinelli are all out for some time – that is arguably their first-choice entrance three.
And there are some difficult video games on the horizon for Arsenal. They are going to be hoping to get wins in opposition to Leicester and West Ham later this month – however matches with Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Chelsea are looming.
