Arsenal’s Attacking Strategy Hampered by Havertz Injury

Arsenal’s forward plans have taken a significant blow as Kai Havertz has been ruled out with a knee injury, leaving manager Mikel Arteta with limited options just one week into the Premier League season.

According to reports from The Athletic, the 26-year-old German international is expected to spend time on the sidelines following the injury, although the club’s medical team has yet to provide a timeline for his recovery. Havertz was notably absent from Wednesday’s open training session, raising further concerns about the severity of the issue.

Havertz made a brief appearance during Arsenal’s opening match against Manchester United, coming off the bench to replace recent £72 million acquisition Viktor Gyökeres a change that previously proved fruitful in the preseason when Havertz scored in the Emirates Cup against Athletic Bilbao.

The situation is particularly challenging for Arsenal, as striker Gabriel Jesus continues to recover from an ACL injury he sustained earlier this year. With Havertz now out, Arsenal’s attacking depth is being put to the test once again. Last season, Havertz missed a considerable amount of time due to a hamstring issue, prompting Arteta to explore makeshift solutions. New signing Mikel Merino even played up front at one point, while Leandro Trossard was utilized as a false nine when necessary.

Gyökeres, who joined from Sporting Lisbon to alleviate the attacking burden, now finds himself under increased pressure as he adjusts to the demands of English football.

In light of Havertz’s injury, Arsenal is searching for additional attacking options in the transfer market, but many of their primary targets have already been signed by rival clubs. Liverpool has acquired Hugo Ekitike, while Manchester United secured Benjamin Sesko. Potential alternatives still available include Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

So far this summer, Arsenal has made significant investments, spending over £200 million on reinforcements, including Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Cristhian Mosquera, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

With Havertz now sidelined, the pressing question is whether the Gunners will be willing to dig deeper into their budget for a temporary solution. For the time being, Arteta will have to restructure his squad as Arsenal prepares for their upcoming match against newly-promoted Leeds United on Saturday, hoping that their injury woes do not derail what could be a promising season.