Graeme Souness has taken a huge dig at Arsenal forward Kai Havertz following his injury blow.
The Germany international will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury he picked up during Arsenal’s winter training break in Dubai.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta described the ‘unexpected’ injury as a ‘big blow’, with Havertz joining Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus in the treatment room.
‘He was going to stop a shot after a set-piece and stretched the leg and he felt his hamstring,’ Arteta said before Saturday’s victory at Leicester City.
‘We were having a great camp in Dubai, recharging, training, having some time off and connecting again with nature and a different environment.
‘And then the injury happened in a very unexpected way, certainly. So it’s a big blow, obviously, because of the injuries that we have.’
Havertz’s absence leaves Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and teenage star Ethan Nwaneri as the club’s only recognised forwards.
And yet football icon and respected pundit Souness believes the injury could in fact be a ‘blessing in disguise’ for Arsenal.
Havertz has scored 29 goals in 85 appearances for the Gunners since completing a £65m move from London rivals Chelsea in 2023.
‘I’m not so sure how much Kai Havertz, who is out for the rest of the season, will be missed,’ he told MailSport.
‘I watched him in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle the other week. He just kept getting pushed over and losing possession.
‘Mikel Arteta has Bukayo Saka coming back and he just has to come up with different ways of scoring goals and perhaps a slightly different way of playing, while maintaining the same basic principles.
‘It might be a blessing in disguise, if someone steps up and proves to be an unexpected goalscorer.’
It looked as though Arsenal’s lack of attacking options would cost them two points against relegation-battlers Leicester City on Saturday.
The Foxes kept Arsenal at bay for 80 minutes before Mikel Merino scored twice to clinch a crucial win and keep the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Rating Merino’s performance after he played as a false for the final part of the game, Arteta said: ‘He has a sense of danger and great timing in the box.
‘We were on the verge of getting to a different level of anxiety. We were composed, scored two brilliant goals and could have scored one or two more.’
Champions League winner Havertz, meanwhile, shared an update on social media on Sunday after undergoing surgery on his hamstring.
‘The last few days have been tough to process both physically and mentally,’ he wrote on Instagram.
‘But yesterday was a good day. A successful op and a win. Thanks for all the messages of support over the last few days, it’s really helped.
‘I’m now focused on my journey to full fitness and giving all the support I can give to the team in the background.’
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