Arsenal’s worst fears have been realised with Kai Havertz set to overlook the remainder of the season with a hamstring damage, leaving Mikel Arteta’s aspect and not using a recognised centre-forward in a significant blow to their Premier League title hopes.
The Germany striker, Arsenal’s high scorer this season with 15 targets in all competitions, sustained the damage throughout a warm-weather coaching camp in Dubai designed to present Arteta’s squad a much-needed break after an intensive run of video games in January. Arsenal returned to London on Tuesday and had been assessing the damage. Scan outcomes are understood to have confirmed that Havertz is unlikely to play once more this season, though it has but to be determined whether or not he would require surgical procedure.
The most recent hamstring damage to afflict the squad represents one other headache for Arteta, who expressed disappointment that Arsenal didn’t usher in reinforcements through the January switch window after long-term accidents to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus. They’re additionally anticipated to be with out Gabriel Martinelli for a number of weeks after the Brazilian injured a hamstring within the defeat by Newcastle within the Carabao Cup semi-final final week.
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It leaves Arteta with solely three match senior forwards however none of Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling or Ethan Nwaneri favours a central function. The academy product Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, a 22-year-old but to attain a league objective after loans at Accrington and Cheltenham, may very well be an possibility. Nevertheless, the Arsenal supervisor has beforehand hinted that Nwaneri – the 17-year-old who has scored seven targets in an excellent breakthrough season – could also be his most well-liked selection.
“I feel he can develop right into a No 9,” Arteta mentioned in December. “He has obtained the objective in entrance of him and he seems to be on the objective and he has an amazing potential to place the ball at the back of the online.”
Solely final week Arteta had praised Havertz’s “robustness” and dismissed considerations that the 25-year-old could need to play each sport given Arsenal’s failure to signal a striker within the January window.
“Genetically, he’s a powerhouse,” Arteta mentioned. “He’s so well-built. He’s a participant that something you ask him, he’s blissful to do: to run, to be very sturdy, to make lengthy distances. His physique absorbs the whole lot after which he actually takes care of himself. We all know find out how to handle him and we consider that when he says one thing it’s for the proper motive, not as a result of he desires to keep away from one thing. When one thing works, don’t contact him.”
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Saka travelled with Arsenal to Dubai and was pictured working within the health club, though he’s not anticipated to return for a minimum of one other month after hamstring surgical procedure. There are additionally considerations about Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has performed solely six minutes for Arsenal this season after one other knee damage and didn’t journey to Dubai. The Japan defender might face one other operation having confronted a number of setbacks in his makes an attempt to return to full coaching.
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