What’s Next for Arsenal Following Kai Havertz Injury?

Arsenal’s crisis up-front has gone from bad to worse.

Kai Havertz, who was Arsenal’s last remaining non-injured striker, is now set to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. The injury apparently occurred during training in Dubai, after Arsenal flew there for a brief warm-weather training camp to recuperate heading into the second half of the season.

The Gunner’s failure to bring in a striker during the January transfer window was a risk that didn’t pay off. Star attackers Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli are all out with various long-term injuries.

It leaves manager Mikel Arteta with Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and Ethan Nwaneri as the only fit senior attackers — none of whom play as striker in their natural position. It’s undoubtedly a blow to the current 2nd-place team who are currently the only team looking likely to push Liverpool to compete for the title, being 6 points behind albeit with the Reds having one more game in hand.

What options are left for Arsenal? They can dip into the free market agency, but the pickings are grim, to say the least. The best current option would be former Chelsea striker Diego Costa. He last played in the Premier League in 2022, when he signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers for a single season but only managed to score one goal.

It seems more likely that Arteta will look internally in the squad to address their current problems. 17-year-old Nwaneri has been marked by Arteta to be played in the #9 position, saying in December that the young Englishman “could develop into the 9,” and that “he has a tremendous ability to put the ball into the back of the net.” He has already scored seven goals this season in what could be considered his breakout year, and could do very well to fill in the void at striker.

Playing Trossard and Sterling on either side of him on the wing would be the most probable lineup, but it leaves them with few options on the bench. Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, who was on loan at Cheltenham Town but failed to score in 13 appearances, could be set to play a bench role. Khayon Edwards, who also spent time on loan at Leyton Orient without scoring, is their last remaining attacking option.

Arsenal will return from Dubai soon and are set to play against Leicester City this Saturday, February 15th.