Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has suffered a hamstring injury that might sideline him for the rest of the season.
With Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka also injured, it will be really difficult now for the Gunners to contend with table-toppers Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title.
Arsenal’s decision not to invest in a centre-forward in the January transfer window might end up backfiring in such a scenario.
They will struggle to field a proper playing XI in such a situation and hence, winning matches should prove to be really difficult for them.
Who Will Step Up in Kai Havertz’s Absence?
Raheem Sterling has made 18 appearances for Arsenal this season so far, with a solitary goal to his credit.
Ethan Nwaneri, meanwhile, has been one of the most impressive young players in the Premier League this season, with seven goals in 23 matches.
With Leandro Trossard also fit to start, the Gunners will depend upon the three aforementioned players to form a forward line in their upcoming matches.
The absence of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Havertz, however, will mean that the potency in their frontline will continue to be seriously affected.
Both Trossard and Sterling are capable of playing as the centre-forward. Hence, it will be interesting to see who Mikel Arteta opts for to play as the No. 9 in the upcoming matches.
Sterling might get the nod ahead of Trossard, as he has played in that position more frequently than the Belgian.
Nwaneri will probably be playing as the right-winger in the absence of both Saka and Martinelli – a chance for the English teenager to continue his fantastic breakthrough season for the club.
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Arsenal Have Ground to Make Up
The Gunners trail Liverpool by seven points after having played 24 matches.
That might not look like a very big difference, but with 14 rounds of matches remaining, the Gunners should find it very difficult to overturn the deficit.
Arne Slot’s men do not have any major injury issues and have many more options upfront than the Gunners at the moment.
Therefore, Liverpool remain the odds-on favourites to win the league title this year. Had Arsenal managed to stay injury-free, they might probably have given the Reds a run for their money in the title race.
Arsenal have three important matches coming up in the Premier League this month.
First, they will face Leicester City and then take on West Ham United and Nottingham Forest, before kicking March off with a fixture against Manchester United.
Arteta might fancy his team’s chances of winning all three matches. However, beating Nottingham Forest is not going to be easy at all.
Forest are firmly in the race to finish inside the top four this season and Manchester United are the team that knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup.
The Gunners will therefore have to play exceptionally well to take three points in each of those two matches.
The more points they lose from this point onwards, the more it is going to suit Liverpool in their bid to win the Premier League title.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Propaganda Photo
Recording Date: 02.02.2025