Arsenal star Kai Havertz is expected to miss the rest of the season (Image: Getty)
worst fears have come true with Kai Havertz reportedly expected to miss the rest of the season. forward options have been further diminished by a hamstring problem suffered by the German during the club’s warm-weather training trip to Dubai.
The Gunners lost Gabriel Jesus to an ACL injury earlier this season. and are also expected to be absent for a number of weeks with hamstring issues.
opted against signing a striker in the January transfer window despite Arteta struggling for options in the area before Havertz’s absence, which has been reported by . Express Sport looks at some rogue options to replace the 25-year-old.
Leandro Trossard
Trossard has played centrally before but is much more comfortable behind a striker or out wide. However, the Belgian could be handed the role by the mere process of elimination. Arteta simply does not have any senior players whose best role is through the middle of a front three.
The 30-year-old has struck only five in 36 appearances across all competitions this season. That figure will have to improve if Trossard is to fire to the Premier League title as their makeshift striker.
Ethan Nwaneri
Arteta has suggested that Nwaneri could develop into a centre-forward. The academy graduate has shown his ability in front of goal, scoring seven times in his first full senior season aged 17.
“He can play right attacking midfielder, he can play left attacking midfielder, he can play right winger. There is another position that I think he can develop into in a few years: nine,” Arteta said in December.
“When he’s got the goal in front of him, he just looks at the goal. He has a tremendous ability to put the ball into the back of the net.”
It remains to be seen whether Arteta is prepared to select Nwaneri to lead the line this early in his career.
Ethan Nwaneri can develop as a centre-forward, Mikel Arteta hopes (Image: Getty)
Raheem Sterling
Sterling has been a huge disappointment at . There was hope that the 30-year-old could revive his career in north London and use his experience to guide a young squad to their first Premier League title in over 20 years.
But the on-loan forward has played just 753 minutes across all competitions – the equivalent of just over eight full games. Arteta insists Sterling will get his chance, though, and it could come through the middle of the attack.
Sterling still has 14 games to make an impact at in the Premier League, and at least two more in the Champions League. If he can fire them to a trophy, the disappointing majority of his Gunners career will be forgotten.
Raheem Sterling has time to revive his Arsenal career (Image: Getty)
Mikel Merino
Merino could be a makeshift centre-forward in waiting. According to data website FBRef, the Spaniard is in the 92nd percentile of central midfielders for non-penalty expected goals with 0.17 per game. That shows he has the ability to be in the right place at the right time in front of goal.
He manages 1.5 shots per 90 minutes and, for a midfielder, scores highly for touches taken in the opposition penalty area.
Merino’s header for Spain against Germany in the Euro 2024 quarter-final was that of an old-fashioned No. 9.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have taken advantage of first-team injuries to stake their claim for regular involvement. Now could be the time for Butler-Oyedeji to also win senior minutes as a result of Havertz’s setback.
At 22, Butler-Oyedeji is older than the teenage duo currently shining at the Emirates Stadium. But he has performed well for ’s Under-21s this term, scoring seven goals in 10 Premier League 2 appearances. Now could be the time for him to translate that form into the first team.