Arsenal’s attacking options dwindle as Havertz injury compounds crisis

Arsenal’s attacking woes have worsened with news that Kai Havertz may miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury. This latest setback leaves manager Mikel Arteta with limited options up front as the Gunners try to maintain their title challenge.

With Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli already sidelined, Havertz’s absence removes Arsenal’s only established striker. Arteta now faces difficult decisions on how to reshape his attack for crucial upcoming fixtures.

Leandro Trossard seems the most likely candidate to fill in as a false nine, having played there before for Arsenal. However, his goal return this season has been modest. Raheem Sterling is another option but has struggled for form and confidence in front of goal.

Teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri offers an intriguing alternative, boasting impressive scoring stats in limited minutes. But deploying such a young player in an unfamiliar role would be risky. Arteta may need to get creative, potentially repurposing midfielders or promoting more youth players.

This injury crisis intensifies scrutiny on Arsenal’s January transfer window, where they failed to add attacking reinforcements. What seemed a calculated gamble then now looks like a costly mistake that could derail their title ambitions.

With Liverpool pulling away at the top, Arsenal can ill afford any slip-ups. But Arteta faces an immense challenge to maintain their challenge with such depleted resources up front. The next few weeks will severely test his tactical acumen and squad management.