Arsenal’s injury woes have taken a severe toll on their Premier League title hopes, with key player Bukayo Saka set to miss another eight weeks due to a hamstring injury. This news follows confirmation that German forward Kai Havertz will be sidelined for the remainder of the season after sustaining a similar injury.
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, is now left to cope with an increasingly thin squad as the Gunners’ title challenge begins to fade.
Saka’s injury, which initially occurred during a 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace in December, had initially led to hopes that the winger would return to action by next month. However, Arsenal’s latest updates indicate that the England international’s recovery could extend into mid-April.
Despite being spotted undergoing rehabilitation in Dubai, Arteta is determined not to rush Saka back into action, with the club’s manager opting to avoid any further risk to the explosive player’s fitness.
The injury crisis has left Arteta with limited attacking options. With first-team regulars like Gabriel Jesus and now Martinelli also unavailable, the manager will rely on the services of Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and teenager Ethan Nwaneri to fill the void in attack.
As if that weren’t enough, Havertz, Arsenal’s 14-goal top scorer, has been confirmed to need surgery for his hamstring injury, and his recovery is expected to stretch into pre-season preparations for the 2025/26 season. Arsenal expressed full support for the player in their statement, saying they are focused on getting him back to full fitness as soon as possible.
Adding to Arteta’s woes, Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli, who suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle, is expected to be sidelined for a month.
With Arsenal now trailing seven points behind Liverpool in the title race, Arteta will need to rely on his remaining squad members to maintain their challenge for the league, but this mounting injury crisis leaves little room for optimism.
