Arsenal's attacking crisis has allegedly gone from bad to worse, as Kai Havertz has sustained a suspected hamstring injury during their warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
The Gunners were already working without the services of Bukayo Saka (hamstring) and Gabriel Jesus (knee) for the long-term before Gabriel Martinelli also hurt his hamstring against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup.
The Brazilian's issue - which is expected to sideline him for around a month - left Mikel Arteta with just four senior options in attack; Havertz, Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri.
Arsenal did not manage to strike a deal for a new attacker in the January transfer window despite their shortages, with the board seemingly deciding that keeping their warchest closed before the summer was a gamble worth taking.
However, if that risk had not already backfired, it certainly has now, as the Daily Mail claims that Havertz has now suffered a "worrying" scare during the Gunners' training camp in the Middle East.
Havertz injury leaves Arteta with no senior striker
© Imago
The Germany international is also believed to have hurt his hamstring, and while it is still unclear how severe his injury is, even a minor concern would likely require a two-week layoff period.
Arsenal are expected to confirm the severity of Havertz's problem in the near future, but the ex-Chelsea man is now almost certain to sit out Saturday's Premier League clash with Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Havertz could also be a doubt for upcoming matches against West Ham United (February 22), Nottingham Forest (February 26) and Manchester United (March 9), as well as the last 16 of the Champions League in the first two weeks of March.
The 25-year-old has come under fire this season for a glut of missed gilt-edged chances, but he is comfortably Arsenal's top scorer this season with 15 goals from 34 appearances across all competitions.
Havertz has struck nine goals in the top flight and four in the Champions League for Arsenal in the current campaign, but the Gunners will be nine points off Liverpool in the top-flight table should the Reds beat Merseyside rivals Everton on Wednesday.
What will Arsenal's attack look like after Havertz injury?
© Imago
For the past few years, Dubai has been the safest haven from the rigours of domestic football for Arsenal, who had already received boosts relating to Saka and Ben White's fitness earlier in the week.
However, not even the Gunners' Gulf state sanctum could prevent their injury crisis from worsening, and with no fewer than four attackers now sidelined, the club's decision to keep their chequebook closed in January looks all the less prudent.
Unless Arsenal hit the biggest panic button and try to sign a free agent - of whom there are a couple high-profile options available - either Sterling or Trossard will have to fill in up front, with the 17-year-old Nwaneri offered no respite on the left.
Arteta's only other internal alternative is 22-year-old academy product Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, who did travel with the first team to Dubai after making his senior debut against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.
Regardless of what solution the Spaniard pursues, Arsenal's inactivity during the January transfer window has backfired in the most extraordinary way, and Liverpool should be sitting even more comfortably at the top of the table now.
Ben Knapton
