Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is set for an extended spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury he sustained during the team’s training camp in Dubai.
The 25-year-old is expected to undergo surgery for the injury, which could rule him out for the remainder of the season. As a result, Arsenal will be without a recognized striker for the rest of the 2024-2025 campaign.
The Athletic reported on Havertz’s torn hamstring, though Arsenal has yet to release an official statement. Manager Mikel Arteta is expected to address the injury during his pre-match news conference ahead of Saturday’s clash with Leicester City.
Arsenal is already dealing with several other injury concerns. Striker Gabriel Jesus is recovering from surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Bukayo Saka is sidelined after undergoing hamstring surgery in December.
Gabriel Martinelli also recently injured his hamstring in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle and is expected to be out for more than a month.
Despite these setbacks, Havertz has been a key figure for Arsenal this season, making 34 appearances and contributing 15 goals and five assists, making him the club’s top scorer.
His injury underscores the importance of squad depth, especially since Arsenal failed to secure additional attacking options in the January transfer window. Arteta expressed disappointment over the lack of signings, particularly after a failed bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
Though Arsenal was linked with other forwards, including Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Wolves’ Matheus Cunha, no deals were made. Critics have suggested that bolstering the attack is crucial to maintaining the club’s title ambitions.
In light of these circumstances, Arteta recently noted that Havertz could have played a pivotal role for the rest of the season. Other potential options for the attacking role include wingers Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and youngster Ethan Nwaneri.
Arsenal traveled to Dubai for warm-weather training after their Carabao Cup semi-final exit and did not participate in the FA Cup following their third-round loss to Manchester United.
Last season, after a similar training break, Arsenal went on an impressive run, winning 16 of their next 18 games. Currently, they sit second in the Premier League, just seven points behind leaders Liverpool.
