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Arsenal’s attacking crisis deepens: How can they cope up with Kai Havertz’s injury?

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Arsenal’s attacking crisis deepens: How can they cope up with Kai Havertz’s injury?
Arsenal’s attacking crisis deepens: How can they cope up with Kai Havertz’s injury?

New Delhi: Aresenal have seemingly been penalized for not strengthening their attack this January as another devastating blow has left Mikel Arteta scrambling for solutions. The Gunners, who are still in the hunt for the Premier League title and Champions League glory, have been hit with a season-ending injury to Kai Havertz, arguably their last reliable senior centre-forward option. Havertz’s season ending injury comes at the worst possible time for the Gunners with Mikel Arteta’s side already being short on attacking options.

Fellow striker Gabriel Jesus has already been ruled out for the rest of the season and both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are nursing injuries, leaving Arsenal’s attacking depth stretched to the absolute limit. The Gunners don’t have an out an out striker on their books anymore for a big chunk of their season, leaving them short handed during one of the most crucial parts of the season.

Havertz may not have been the most prolific finisher, but he was Arsenal’s top scorer in the league with nine goals and had already contributed 15 across all competitions. His ability to lead the line, press relentlessly, and cover significant ground made him an integral part of Arteta’s system. Now, without him, the Gunners are left with a gaping hole in their frontline.

With no reinforcements arriving in the January transfer window, Arsenal now faces an uphill battle to maintain their offensive effectiveness. Arteta will have to get creative with his tactics, possibly altering the team’s setup or promoting youth talent in a desperate attempt to salvage their season. So, how can Arsenal cope without the German International?

Shifting to a false nine setup

With no strikers available and limited options up front, one way Arteta can choose to battle this crisis is by operating his side using a false nine set up. Leandro Trossard is the most obvious choice to fill in as Arsenal’s central striker in such a scenario. The Belgian has been deployed in the false nine role on multiple occasions since joining the Gunners and offers intelligent movement and agility that can trouble defenders. While he may not be a natural striker, Trossard has the technical ability to drop deep, link up play, and create space for attacking midfielders to exploit.

However, Trossard’s form this season has been inconsistent. He has only managed five goals across all competitions, a significant drop from the 17 he scored last season. If Arsenal are to rely on him in the No. 9 role, he will need to rediscover his finishing touch and ensure he capitalizes on the few chances that come his way. His experience and versatility make him the safest short-term option, but whether he can deliver the goals Arsenal desperately need remains uncertain.

Another option that Arteta can turn to is Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling, who despite struggling for form during his time in North London, remains an option to play in a central role. While primarily a winger, Sterling has been used as a false nine at various points in his career, particularly during his time at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. His pace, dribbling ability, and movement could offer Arsenal a different dynamic in attack. However, his one goal for the club during his short spell at Arsenal seems to be a major concern and he’d need to drastically improve his performances.

Promoting Academy Talent

With the first-team options depleted, Arteta may have no choice but to turn to the Arsenal academy for reinforcements. The Gunners have a strong tradition of developing young talent, and this could be the perfect opportunity for some of their promising prospects to step up. They have earlier benefitted from having a world class academy which has produced several Premier League stars like Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe, in additional to those still donning the Arsenal jersey.

One of the most exciting names is Ethan Nwaneri, the 17-year-old who has already made waves at youth level. Despite his age, Nwaneri has proven to be a natural goal threat, boasting an impressive scoring rate of 0.90 goals per 90 minutes in all competitions. His ability to find the net, combined with his composure in front of goal, makes him an intriguing option for Arteta. However, throwing a teenager into such a high-pressure situation could be risky, especially given Arsenal’s ambitions this season.

Beyond Nwaneri, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Khayon Edwards have also shown promise within the academy ranks. While neither has extensive senior experience, Arsenal may be forced to gamble on their potential. Andre Harriman-Annous is another name that can step up having already scored six in seven games for the U18s. Similarly, young wingers like Ismeal Kabia and Charles Sagoe Jr. could be given more minutes in wider positions to provide additional attacking support. They’re all highly rated talents who could earn their place in the squad this season like fellow academy boy Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Goals from all across the squad

With Arsenal’s forward line severely weakened, the burden of scoring will inevitably shift to the midfield. As Arsenal have been lacking a prolific striker for a while now, this should be a straightforward goal for the players to meet. Players like Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino will need to contribute more in front of goal. Ødegaard, in particular, has shown he can be a consistent goal scorer, and Arsenal will need him to take on more responsibility in attack. The Arsenal captain has struggled for goals this season with only two strikes to his name and will need to step up in this regard.

With Arsenal’s open-play attacking options limited, set pieces could become a crucial source of goals as they have been for the Gunners this season. The Gunners have already shown their ability to score from dead-ball situations, with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães being constant aerial threats. Arteta could emphasize corners, free kicks, and even long-range efforts as a means to break down stubborn defenses. If Arsenal can maximize their efficiency from set pieces, they could mitigate some of the issues caused by their lack of a natural goal scorer.

Additionally, Arsenal’s full-backs, Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori in particular, may be encouraged to push higher up the pitch to provide more width and allow the midfielders to make late runs into the box. This would increase Arsenal’s attacking options but could also leave them more vulnerable defensively, especially against counter-attacks. Calafiori has shown that he is a potent goal scoring defender and that could be used to their advantage.

 Arsenal’s German striker Kai Havertz has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with the Gunners already short on attackers. How will Mikel Arteta’s side cope without their leading man?  Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today

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