Arsenal’s title hopes have been dealt a hammer blow after Kai Havertz sustained a torn hamstring, with reports suggesting he could miss the rest of the season
Havertz had been the club’s only fit centre-forward, with Gabriel Jesus already ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a serious knee injury.
Now, having picked up a problem in training on Monday during Arsenal’s warm-weather camp in Dubai, The Athletic report that Havertz will also be sidelined for the entirety of the run-in.
While the news is yet to be confirmed by the club, that would leave a gaping hole in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
First-choice wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are already missing because of their own hamstring injuries, meaning Arteta has just three fit forwards - Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard - heading into this weekend’s meeting with Leicester.
While Saka and Martinelli are both due back next month, even then there is no obvious solution to the Gunners’s problem at centre-forward.
Jesus was injured during last month’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United, prompting the club to explore options for a January signing.
However, after seeing a bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins rejected, the club ultimately failed to find a replacement.
