Arsenal are ‘actively exploring the transfer market’ for cover after Kai Havertz suffered a worrying knee injury.
Havertz, 26, did not train with his teammates in an open session at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday morning.
Arsenal are assessing the severity of the injury and it is not yet known how long Havertz will be out for.
However, there is enough concern to ensure Arsenal have already decided to explore their options in the transfer market to cover for the injured Havertz.
Arsenal have expressed interest in signing a new left-winger before the transfer deadline but Havertz’s injury means the Gunners will also consider signing another forward, according to The Athletic.
This is the second injury Havertz has suffered in 2025 after he missed 18 matches in the second-half of last season through a hamstring tear he picked up during a training camp in Dubai.
Havertz has been a valued member of Mike Arteta’s squad since his £65m move from Chelsea and came on as a substitute in Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Manchester United on Sunday.
His absence leaves £64m summer signing Viktor Gyokeres as Arsenal’s only recognised striker available to Arteta ahead of this weekend’s clash with Leeds United.
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Leandro Trossard has previously played as a false nine and now looks set to stay at the club, reportedly agreeing a new contract despite strong speculation over a summer move.
It was central midfielder Mikel Merino who provided cover for Havertz last season but his contributions fell away following a bright start to his temporary spell as a striker.
Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, is still out with the ACL injury he suffered back in January and is not expected to return any time soon.
Who could Arsenal sign as cover for Kai Havertz?
Arsenal were one of many clubs linked with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson earlier in the summer.
Jackson is pushing for a move away from Stamford Bridge following the signings of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap and is believed to be keen to stay in the Premier League.
Chelsea initially slapped an eye-watering £80m price tag on Jackson but have already reduced that figure, open but not desperate to get the Senegal international off the books before the transfer window shuts.
Arsenal have also held interest in Newcastle United wantaway forward Alexander Isak for over a year but are unlikely to rival Liverpool for a deal that could cost up to £150m.
Others attacking players linked with the Gunners in recent weeks include Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku.
Rodrygo struggled for game-time during the Club World Cup and was an unused substitute in Real Madrid’s La Liga opener, while Nkunku is keen to leave Chelsea amid interest from Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.
Losing Havertz for a significant period of time would be a substantial blow to an Arsenal team hoping to go one better and win the Premier League this season.
Arteta’s side are one of the favourites to win the title along with defending champions Liverpool and revitalised Manchester City.
Ex-England defender Gary Neville struggles to separate Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City, insisting they all have ‘genuine cases’ to believe the can lift the title.
Speaking after the opening weekend of the new season, he said: ‘Between Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City, all of them have got cases to win the Premier League.
‘All equal cases as well, I don’t think you can look at any of the three and think they’re definitely above the others.
‘Liverpool could easily win the league, especially if they get Alexander Isak, they could easily win the league by five or six points.
‘We could be staring the obvious in the face with Man City signing (Tijjani) Reijnders and getting Rodri back. They’ve got the best striker in the league and probably the world (Erling Haaland) who scores 40 goals a season.
‘We could look back in six months and be saying it was staring us in the face because City have got a treble-winning spine, they’ve got new players in who look outstanding and they’ve got the best forward in the league.
‘Then you look at Arsenal and think the last two pieces of the jigsaw have been filled with (Viktor) Gyokeres and (Martin) Zubimendi. The defence looks outstanding, they look like a real team and they’re tough to beat.
‘All three of those teams have got genuine cases. Liverpool may be slight favourites but I don’t think any club will be completely confident to win the league even though they all have a great chance. It’s really close.’
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