Arsenal’s quest for the Premier League title has faced a significant setback with the recent injury of forward Kai Havertz during a training session in Dubai.

According to reports from British media, the Germany international has sustained a hamstring tear, which is expected to keep him out of action for an extended period. As of now, Arsenal has not made an official announcement regarding the injury.

The absence of Havertz poses a considerable challenge for manager Mikel Arteta, who is already dealing with limited attacking resources. Gabriel Jesus is out for the remainder of the season due to ACL surgery, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are both nursing hamstring injuries as well.

Arteta has expressed the need to reinforce the squad with additional attacking players, particularly looking towards the January transfer window, where Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has emerged as a possible target.

“We had a clear intention to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it,” Arteta stated following the closing of the transfer window. “However, we fell short of achieving that goal, and we’re disappointed in that regard.”

Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, emphasizing the need for adaptability in their offensive lineup. “It’s not a gamble; it’s the reality we have to confront,” he added.

Currently, Arsenal sits in second place in the Premier League standings, trailing leaders Liverpool by seven points. The team has not secured a league title since 2004 and finished as runners-up in the previous two seasons.