Kai Havertz’s injury has left Arsenal in a difficult position, highlighting their shortcomings in attacking recruitment. The German forward is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a torn hamstring, joining Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the sidelines. With Gabriel Jesus also out until next season, Mikel Arteta faces a shortage of attacking options at a crucial point in the campaign.
Having just returned from a warm-weather training camp in Dubai, Arsenal’s squad is now left with only three senior forwards Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and Ethan Nwaneri available for the upcoming match against Leicester. The lack of depth has forced Arteta to consider unconventional solutions, including the possibility of giving more responsibility to Nwaneri, a 17-year-old still subject to Premier League safeguarding rules that prevent him from changing in the first-team dressing room.
The summer signings of Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino have yet to make a significant impact, with neither starting in the recent 5-1 victory over Manchester City. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice excelled in their respective roles that day, but Arsenal’s attack remains an area of concern.
Arteta had already voiced his concerns about squad depth before the season began, acknowledging that the club would have to rely on academy players. However, decisions in the transfer market have contributed to the current predicament. Allowing Eddie Nketiah to leave for Crystal Palace and sanctioning the sale of Emile Smith Rowe weakened attacking depth, while Reiss Nelson’s loan move to Fulham further reduced options. The last-minute loan signing of Sterling has not paid off so far, with the England forward struggling for form and limited to just 216 Premier League minutes.
With Havertz and Martinelli out, scrutiny will also increase on Arsenal’s recruitment team. Jason Ayto, who stepped in as sporting director following Edu’s departure, was involved in a failed attempt to sign Ollie Watkins in January. While a move for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is being considered for the summer, it does little to help Arsenal’s immediate struggles.
In the short term, Arteta may have to turn to Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, who has yet to score a league goal but has performed well for the under-21s, or Charles Sagoe Jr, who has returned from a loan spell at Shrewsbury.
Arsenal’s hopes of challenging for the title appear increasingly fragile. Their failure to secure a reliable backup striker in January could prove costly, and Arteta must now find solutions from within a depleted squad as they push to keep their season alive.
