Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is set to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign after sustaining a hamstring injury during the team’s training camp in Dubai.
The 25-year-old’s absence leaves the Gunners without a recognized striker for the rest of the season. According to The Athletic, Havertz has suffered a torn hamstring, and sources close to the player anticipate he will require surgery. He returned to London with the squad on Tuesday.
Arsenal have yet to make an official statement on the injury, but manager Mikel Arteta is expected to provide an update in his press conference on Friday ahead of their Premier League clash with Leicester City.
The injury further deepens Arsenal’s attacking crisis. Gabriel Jesus is sidelined following knee surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Bukayo Saka has been recovering from hamstring surgery since December. Gabriel Martinelli also suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle and is expected to be out for over a month.
Havertz, who has made 34 appearances this season, is Arsenal’s top scorer with 15 goals and five assists. His absence leaves Arteta short of attacking options, especially after the club failed to secure reinforcements in the January transfer window.
The Gunners had an offer for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins rejected, while links to Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, Wolves’ Matheus Cunha, Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, and Brighton’s Evan Ferguson failed to materialize.
Criticism had already been directed at Arsenal for not signing a striker, with pundits and fans questioning whether they had enough firepower to compete for silverware. Before Havertz’s injury, Arteta admitted the German might have to start every game for the rest of the season. Now, he may be forced to rely on wingers Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and Ethan Nwaneri in central roles.
Arsenal traveled to Dubai last week for warm-weather training after their Carabao Cup semi-final exit to Newcastle. They were also not involved in the FA Cup this weekend following their third-round defeat to Manchester United.
Despite their current struggles, Arsenal enjoyed a strong run after a similar mid-season break last year, winning 16 of their next 18 games. They currently sit second in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Liverpool.
