KAI HAVERTZ has been ruled out for the rest of the season in a major dent to Arsenal’s title challenge.
Havertz picked up the injury after sustaining a torn hamstring during the team’s training camp in Dubai.
It was revealed earlier this week how the German was in the treatment room after suffering the injury.
Havertz, 25, adds to the Gunners already devastating list of attacking injuries.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli are all sidelined, leaving Mikel Arteta with few options up front.
Raheem Sterling, Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard are the only recognised first-team attackers who are not crocked.
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It is unclear whether Havertz will need surgery, though his focus will now shift to trying to get fit for the start of next season.
Nwaneri, 17, has been identified as one emergency option to play up front.
Arteta said: “Depending on who they are surrounded by and depending on which position Ethan can play.
“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, so there are options here.
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“Nine [on which position he thinks Nwaneri could develop into]. 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.”
If he cannot find a solution – with Mikel Merino being touted as an option to play down in the middle in a similar vein to Marouane Felliaini at Manchester United – then Arteta will have to turn to Hale End to find reinforcements.
This could see the likes of Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Ismeal Kabia or Khayon Edwards called up as fresh-faced recruits.
Arsenal were actively looking to sign a new attacker in January, but failed to do so.
Arteta bemoaned their failure to add to the squad, and will now be feeling the weight of that failure even more.
The Gunners are second in the Premier League table but could be nine points behind Liverpool after tonight’s last-ever Goodison Merseyside derby.
Arsenal face Leicester in their next game.
ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Saliba will be having nightmares about Isak as Lewis-Skelly is only Gunners star to show up
ARSENAL were humbled by Newcastle at St James’ Park as the Magpies beat them 2-0 to secure a spot in the League Cup final.
The North Londoners knew they needed to take an early advantage if they were to overturn the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.
But Jacob Murphy was on hand to put the Magpies a goal ahead after Alexander Isak’s shot rebounded off of the post and out to him.
Shortly after the break, Anthony Gordon doubled the lead to all but confirm a second League Cup final in three years for Eddie Howe.
Here’s how SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse rated the Gunners.
David Raya – 5
Stitched Declan Rice right up for the second goal.
And that absolutely killed this as a contest for his side.
Jurrien Timber – 6
Tried to get forward and support the attack early but soon found himself dropping deeper to avoid being caught on the counter.
Tough night for the Dutchman up against Gordon in front of the red-hot home crowd.
William Saliba – 4
Let frustration get the better of him when he got himself booked for grabbing Anthony Gordon’s shirt.
And the winger almost embarrassed him again at the start of the second period when he caught the defender sleeping, nicked the ball from him, but could only shoot wide.
The usually assured star will be having nightmares of Gordon and Isak.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 6
Another who struggled to contain Toon’s two pacey attacking threats but did fair slightly better than his usually formidable partner.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7
Another assured performance from the full-back in a raucous atmosphere.
Could not be faulted for any of the goals and showed flashes off his potential despite the humbling.
Martin Odegaard – 6
Everything Arsenal did try came through the skipper.
Although he loses a mark as things could have been a very different story if he had finished his first half effort had hit the inside rather than outside of the post.
Thomas Partey – 6
Plenty of running about but very little to show or product for his efforts.
Declan Rice – 6
Looked to take a knock late in the first half and continued to struggle on after the restart.
Was hung out to dry by his goalie for the second goal and he did keep pushing until the very end.
But it was a disappointing night for the England star and his partner Partey as they came up short against Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.
Gabriel Martinelli – 5
Struggled to get past big Dan Burn during his brief time on the pitch.
And his night was brought to an abrupt end when he limped off before the break.
Kai Havertz – 4
Outmuscled, outbattled and outthought but Svan Botman and Fabian Schar.
Produced zilch on an evening when he and his team-mates lacked creativity and ideas.
Leandro Trossard – 5
Many will have been fancying him to cause some problems for the 34-year-old Kieran Trippier but the veteran had him in his pocket all night.
Arteta had seen enough by the hour mark and opted to let Raheem Sterling have a go instead.
Subs used
Ethan Nwaneri (37 mins for Martinelli) – 6
Desperately tried to inject some pace and threat into the faltering Arsenal attack but the task proved too much for the young Gunn.
He should have plenty more big occasions to look forward to though in his career.
Mikel Merino (70 mins for Odegaard) – 5
The game was already done and dusted when he entered the fray for battle.
Some nice touches, but like those before him, he couldn’t produce anything for the visitors.
Raheem Sterling (61 mins for Trossard) – 4
Got half an hour to try and get at Trippier but, just like Trossard before him, he was not given an ounce of joy.
Riccardo Calafiori (78 mins for Timber) – 4
Was brought on simply to get some minutes in his legs.
Jorginho (78 mins for Partey) – 4
See above. Little chance to make an impact with the game well and truly over.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
