Arsenal are dealt 'MAJOR injury blow' in attack less than a week into the new season
By ZAC CAMPBELL,
Kai Havertz has reportedly suffered another fitness setback in the form of a knee injury that saw him absent from Arsenal's open training session at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday morning.
Havertz, 26, missed the second half of last season after contracting a serious hamstring issue during the Gunners' mid-season training camp in Dubai.
According to The Athletic, the German international's injury is now forcing Mikel Arteta's side to delve back into the transfer market.
New signing Viktor Gyokeres is currently the only fit striker available for Arteta to choose from - with Gabriel Jesus a long-term absentee having injured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in January.
Throughout the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, both Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard operated in central roles up front when Havertz and Jesus were sidelined for lengthy periods.
The news will come as a blow to Arteta, with Havertz having replaced Gyokeres after an hour of Arsenal's 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Kai Havertz has reportedly suffered another fitness setback in the form of a knee injury
Although Gyokeres was picked to start his team's Premier League opener, Havertz being sidelined will present a headache to Arteta given the German's versatility - that allows him to be deployed in central midfield or as a number nine.
His injury comes amid speculation that the north London side were already in the market for further attacking reinforcements.
One potential target is Real Madrid's Rodrygo, who was an unused substitute in their 1-0 win over Osasuna on Tuesday night.
However, Los Blancos manager Xabi Alonso has downplayed the Brazilian's absence, which he said was due to tactical reasons.
He stated: 'These are match decisions. The way the match was going, we needed another profile. There have been no decisions for the future.
'Nothing is going on. The Club World Cup was a different context because of the competition it was. Today it's just one game, we can leave the rest behind.
'What counts is this season and of course I'm counting on Rodrygo. It's just one game, we shouldn't read too far into the future.
'If he gets those minutes in three months' time, I'll be able to answer you with more certainty. Today it was just the circumstances of the game and my decisions.'
Any potential incomings for Arsenal are likely to have to come after sales of fringe players such as Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson.
Arteta's side are next in action on Saturday afternoon, as they welcome Leeds United to the Emirates for their first home Premier League game of the season.
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