Mikel Arteta admission sheds more light on Kai Havertz decision that has massively backfired

Arsenal will be without a recognised senior striker for the rest of the season after Kai Havertz tore his hamstring during the Gunners’ warm-weather training camp in Dubai

Mikel Arteta explained that Arsenal decided against adding another forward to their squad in January as they couldn’t do a deal for ‘the right profile of player’.

The Gunners entered the winter transfer window light on numbers in attack with Bukayo Saka injured, but their plight worsened when Gabriel Jesus was ruled out for the rest of the season in early January.

They were then linked with a handful of players, including Wolves’ Matheus Cunha and Mathys Tel, throughout January. Arsenal opted to keep their powder dry, though, with plans to spend big on a new No.9 in the summer instead.

But with Kai Havertz also now sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with a torn hamstring, that decision has backfired in a huge way.

The Germany international was Arsenal’s only recognised fit senior striker prior to his injury, meaning Arteta is now down to the bare bones. He admitted it was ‘disappointing’ that business wasn’t done in January, although he went on to say that was partly because they were unable to sign the ‘certain types of player’ they were after.

Arteta said last week: “We had a clear intention which is there is a window open. For the players that can impact it, we haven’t achieved it. We are disappointed. But we are very aware that we only want to bring certain types of player.”

Havertz was signed to play as a left-sided No.8 from Chelsea but finished last season with a flourish after being deployed in a more orthodox striking role by Arteta.

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He is Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with nine goals and was backed to shine after Jesus was ruled out for the season following surgery on an ACL injury.

Arteta said: “Well, I think Kai has played so many games and it’s been so important when other players, some big players as well, were available. It’s not because a player is not coming and his position is going to be more important. From my opinion, there’s nothing to do with that.”

Arsenal return to action on Saturday with a home match against struggling Leicester City. Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri – who Arteta has tipped to become a striker long-term – are the players who could step in for Havertz.

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