Arsenal lose ANOTHER attacker as Arteta regrets January failures

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 12 Feb 2025 08:36 GMT
3 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Mikel Arteta is regretting the decision by Arsenal not to sign a striker in January as Kai Havertz is now at risk of a spell on the sidelines.

Article continues under the video

Havertz is reported by the Daily Mail to have suffered a muscular injury scare during Arsenal’s training trip to Dubai this week.

The problem is hamstring-related and tests are now being undergone to determine the extent of the injury.

This comes as a crushing blow to Arsenal, who are completely decimated in attack.

If the injury is confirmed, it will mean that Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling are Arsenal’s only fit forwards.

Gabriel Jesus is out for the rest of the season with an ACL tear, Gabriel Martinelli is missing for a month with a hamstring injury, while Bukayo Saka will not be back until March after surgery on his hamstring.

Arsenal were criticised for not addressing their needs in attack in January, especially following the ACL tear suffered by Jesus.

The Gunners have struggled in front of goal all season, which has led to them falling out of the title race as they are six points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more.

Much has been said about the fact that Arsenal have no natural number nine, with Havertz filling in to that unnatural role for over a year now with mixed success.

Havertz at Arsenal

Arsenal signed Havertz from Chelsea for €75 million (£65m) last summer. That made him the third most expensive signing in the club’s history.

In the process he also became Arsenal’s highest-paid player. He earns an annual salary of €17m per season (£14.5m), more than Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and William Saliba.

Arteta’s move for Havertz came as something of a surprise as the Germany international had largely struggled during his time in the Premier League with Chelsea.

Although he scored the winner in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City, Havertz failed to live up to his billing after his £71m move from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020.

His poor start to his Arsenal career in which he had no goal contributions - goals or assists - in his first nine games and only two in his first 19, seemed to confirm that Arteta had made a mistake signing Havertz.

But he enjoyed an excellent second half to the season last term and started the new campaign well, also.

But in recent months the goals have dried up somewhat for Havertz, underlining the need to sign a natural striker.

Arsenal failed to do so in January, and now they could pay the price further if Havertz is out for an extended period of time.