90min

Arsenal rocked by 'worrying' attacking injury scare during Dubai training camp

  • Kai Havertz has reportedly damaged his hamstring
  • Mikel Arteta is already without Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus
  • Arsenal have just three first-team forwards

By Grey Whitebloom

Kai Havertz could not finish the mid-season training camp
Kai Havertz could not finish the mid-season training camp / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
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Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has reportedly sustained a muscular injury during the club's mid-season warm-weather training camp, compounding Mikel Arteta's various fitness concerns at the top end of the pitch.

Havertz may struggle to find space in Arsenal's crowded treatment room. The Gunners have been without Bukayo Saka since he tore his hamstring in December, while Gabriel Jesus was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after damaging his ACL in January's FA Cup exit to Manchester United.

Gabriel Martinelli was ruled out for around a month with a hamstring issue he sustained during Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle United.

The north London outfit jetted off to Dubai for a burst of warm-weather training. Arsenal were rejuvenated by this mid-season break last term, winning nine of their next ten matches across all competitions after returning. This year's excursion has been hampered by Havertz suffering a "worrying injury" according to the Daily Mail.

Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz could face a spell on the sidelines / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

The report narrowed the problem down to his hamstring, the severity of which is not known. Arsenal's medical department has been described as "concerned".

Havertz is constantly criticised for the chances he misses, but no other Arsenal player has scored more than his 15 goals across all competitions this season. If the German is sidelined, Arteta will be left with just three fit forwards; Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri. None of that trio are recognised centre-forwards.

Trossard has been regularly deployed across Arsenal's frontline this season, while Nwaneri has racked up an impressive seven goals across all competitions. Sterling's loan spell has been abundantly underwhelming, with the 30-year-old afforded just three Premier League starts.

That tally may swell in the coming weeks given the limited options Arteta has at his disposal.

The Gunners travel to Leicester City's King Power Stadium on Saturday before hosting West Ham United on the following weekend.

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