Kai Havertz ruled out for rest of SEASON with torn hamstring in devastating blow to Arsenal’s title dreams
KAI HAVERTZ has been ruled out for the rest of the season in a major dent to Arsenal's title challenge.
Havertz picked up the injury after sustaining a torn hamstring during the team's training camp in Dubai.
It was revealed earlier this week how the German was in the treatment room after suffering the injury.
With the 25-year-old now out for the remainder of the season, he adds to the Gunners already devastating list of attacking injuries.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli are all sidelined through injury, leaving Mikel Arteta with scarce few options up front.
Raheem Sterling, Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard are the only recognised first-team attackers who are now not crocked.
It is unclear whether Havertz will need surgery, though his focus will now shift to trying to get fit for the start of next season.
Emergency options for strikers has seen Nwaneri, 17, identified as one option to play up front.
Arteta said: "Depending on who they are surrounded by and depending on which position Ethan can play.
“He can play right attacking midfielder, he can play left attacking midfielder, he can play right winger. There is another position that I think he can develop into in a few years, so there are options here.
“Nine [on which position he thinks Nwaneri could develop into]. When he’s got the goal in front of him, he just looks at the goal. He has a tremendous ability to put the ball into the back of the net.”
If he cannot find a solution among his squad - with Mikel Merino being touted as an option to play down in the middle in a similar vein to Marouane Felliaini - then Arteta will have to turn to Hale End to find reinforcements.
Arsenal were actively looking to sign a new attacker in January, but failed to do so.
Arteta bemoaned their failure to add to the squad, and will now be feeling the weight of that failure even more.
The Gunners are second in the Premier League table but could be nine points behind Liverpool after tonight's last-ever Goodison Merseyside derby.
More to follow.
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