Arsenal have experienced an incredibly poor period of misfortune as Mikel Arteta has lost nearly all of his starting attacking options. Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are all out of action, with the German international joining the only fellow centre-forward on the sidelines for the foreseeable future and certainly the rest of this season.
Havertz suffered the problem while out in Dubai with his teammates on what was supposed to be a training camp to help with recovery, rest and recharging. For the former Chelsea forward, it could not have been further from that.
“We were having a great camp in Dubai, recharging, training, connecting with nature and a different environment,” Arsenal boss Arteta explained in the first press conference back after the trip. “Then the injury happened in an unexpected way, it’s a big blow because of injuries we have.
“Fortunately, we have been through a lot this season, it’s the challenge I have. We love it. Let’s see what the team is made of.
“Any team in this league loses four players in the frontline like that, and I know what the answer will be.”
Arteta has been making more frequent references of late to how impressed he is that his side have remained in second place despite their issues. He cites the fact he believes other sides would be much further down the table with comparable problems.
Arsenal have failed to score in their last two league games; Arteta is in need of a solution. While trying to find one, Havertz has since been included in what looks like his first public post since the injury.
Published on Instagram by homme_xy_senyo, a hairdresser who appears from his profile to work with some of the game’s biggest stars, Havertz was pictured alongside him. In the image, he can be seen wearing a considerable leg brace.
Next to his right side, resting on the stairs is a pair of crutches. Clearly Havertz, who underwent the procedure around three weeks ago, still needs the additional support.
It is, therefore, no surprise the prognosis posted by the club at the time was that he would be aiming to return for next season. Whether he achieves that however, could indeed still be questionable.
Saka, who also suffered a considerable hamstring problem, also remains out, having had his procedure at the start of December. Arteta explained after the draw with Nottingham that the England international would not be back before the international break, and would still be a doubt for the first game back after it against Fulham.
“I think so, but again, let’s see how they evolve in the next few weeks to make the right steps as well,” he said when asked if they might be back for Fulham. “And then after that, they’ve been out for a long, long time, so we’re going to have to integrate them as well, probably gradually. So they’re evolving well, but they’re still a bit far.”
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