The German, Kai Havertz picked up a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s warm weather training camp trip in Dubai and he will be out for the rest of the campaign.
Kai Havertz’s hamstring injury
The German international suffered a hamstring injury on Arsenal’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai. And now he is ruled out for the remaining part of the season. That has left the Gunners without a regular centre-forward in the team.
A club statement on injury added: “Subsequent assessments and specialists reviews have confirmed that the injury will require surgery, which will take place in the coming days.
“Soon after surgery, Kai will begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, which is expected to extend into pre-season preparations for the next season.”
The North London side now will be without a well-known attacker. They are at the second place behind the league leaders Liverpool. There are still 14 games remaining in the Premier League. And they are trying to reduce the gap with Liverpool. Also the Champions League will be heading to the round of 16 fixtures very soon.
Kai Havertz injury adding woes to Arsenal’s failure to sign any forward in January window
Mikel Arteta and his team’s decision to not sign a forward in the January transfer window is now proving to be very costly.
They were already missing Gabriel Jesus with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. That unfortunate event happened in their FA Cup loss to Manchester United.
Arteta’s side is also without winger Gabriel Martinelli for the remaining season. He also suffered a hamstring issue recently.
The North London club were playing without Bukayo Saka since December 21. He missed a lot of football due to his hamstring problem. Although the Englishman was part of his team’s training camp in Dubai. He will be returning in March.
Havertz has returned to London with the whole squad on Tuesday night.
Paul Merson: Havertz will be a major miss for Arsenal
Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson said: “Kai Havertz is going to be a major miss for Arsenal. He has a great understanding with Marting Odegaard and he can drop off or do a good job at the centre-forward as a focal point.
“He does miss chances but he’s in good positions and he is going to be a massive miss for the Gunners.
“To tear a hamstring in training is near on unacceptable. If you stretch properly, that doesn’t happen. I was flabbergasted by the news of tearing a hamstring on a warm weather training camp.
“Only time will tell how costly it might be that Arsenal didn’t bring in a striker. If they go and lose the league by one, two or three points then you can make the argument.
“But if Liverpool had won against Everton or they go on to win all their games, it doesn’t matter who is playing up front for Arsenal.
“Now the front three will be Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling. Mikel Arteta will have to sit down with Sterling and tell him he’s got six or seven games as a starter and he’s got to go out there and enjoy it, show what you’ve got and just go out and play your game.
“He’s been a bit-part player recently and that is hard. You come on or you start but if you don’t do well you know you will be back on the bench. It’s hard not to think like that as a player.
“But now, Sterling has to play and hopefully that helps him. Hopefully we see the best of him and you never know, those three players may gel.”
Author’s Opinion
With Kai Havertz being injured, Mikel Arteta is left with centre-forward options on the bench. It will be interesting to see how he manages the attacking crisis for the rest of the campaign.
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