Mikel Arteta faces contemporary damage disaster as one other Arsenal star suffers new situation
Mikel Arteta has been dealt a fresh blow after Arsenal forward Kai Havertz picked up a hamstring injury in the club’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai, with the severity of the issue yet to be discovered
Arsenal have suffered a fresh injury nightmare after Kai Havertz sustained a problem.
The Gunners‘ warm weather training camp in Dubai has turned into a bit of a headache for Mikel Arteta, as Havertz picked up an injury ahead of their Premier League clash with Leicester.
The Gunners’ respite in the Middle East has been marred by this latest setback, with the Daily Mail reporting that Havertz suffered a hamstring problem earlier in the week. It’s so far unknown the severity of the injury, but it casts doubt over his availability for the weekend’s match.
Havertz has been in fine form for Arsenal this season, netting 15 goals and providing five assists across all competitions – surpassing his tally from last season following his move from Chelsea. This injury couldn’t come at a worse time for the North London club, who are already sweating over Gabriel Martinelli’s fitness following an injury against Newcastle.
“Yes, he [Martinelli] felt something,” confirmed Arteta. “I think it was his hamstring and he wasn’t comfortable to continue so we’ll have to do an MRI scan tomorrow to see the extent of the injury.”
The potential absence of Havertz and Martinelli adds to Arsenal’s woes, with Gabriel Jesus out for the season due to a knee injury and Bukayo Saka also sidelined with a hamstring issue, with his return not imminent.
Arsenal are also grappling with injury concerns in defence, with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu long-term absentees, with club doctors said to be considering surgery for the latter.
Arteta last month acknowledged the seriousness of the situation: “Tomi has done some stuff on the pitch, but now because it’s been a long-term injury, we need to see how quickly he can progress and how he reacts.”
