3 players who can take up Kai Havertz’s striking role at Arsenal
Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji are the players who can replace Kai Havertz up front for Arsenal.
Follow Us
Arsenal are seeking an internal replacement for injured forward Kai Havertz (via BBC)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces a massive selection dilemma moving forward. It all happened after club forward Kai Havertz most recently suffered a season-ending injury. His concerns added to the list of the Gunners’ long injury list, with four forwards out for a substantial amount of time.
Kai Havertz suffered a serious hamstring injury on Arsenal’s mid-season warm weather training camp in Dubai. The 25-year-old forward, who has been the club’s top-scorer this season, with 15 goals in 34 appearances, has now been ruled out for the rest of the season. This leaves Mikel Arteta with just three first-team attackers, Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri.
Meanwhile, the German forward joins other Arsenal stars on the treatment table. The Gunners already have Gabriel Jesus out for the rest of the campaign, due to an ACL injury. Meanwhile, wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are also set to miss out on more than a month of action, due to their respective injuries. Arsenal now find themselves severely limited in attack.
Six ways Arsenal can replace Kai Havertz after season-ending injury leaves them with just three fit forwards https://t.co/cWZgUmckUw
— Zicutake USA Comment (@Zicutake) February 13, 2025
Moroever, the manager’s decision to not sign a new forward during the January transfer window, seems to have backfired. The Spaniard could now be forced to play some players out of position. Let us take a look at three players who could replace Kai Havertz as the club’s number nine.
Ethan Nwaneri
Earlier this season, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had admitted that he would like to see Ethan Nwaneri in the number nine position, someday. His words might have come true, with the Arsenal academy graduate in the run to start up front for the club, in the absence of Kai Havertz.
The 17-year-old has replaced Bukayo Saka pretty well on the right wing, having scored seven goals in a total of 23 appearances this season. He most recently scored a brilliant goal against Manchester City in a 5-0 victory over the defending EPL champions. Should Nwaneri more to the center, Sterling could take his place on the right side of the attack.
Leandro Trossard
The veteran Belgian forward has played as a center-forward on a number of occasions for Arsenal over the past two seasons. Leandro Trossard has been equally effective in a false nine-style formation for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The Spaniard could utilize the ex-Brighton forward’s abilities as a goal-scorer for the rest of the season. However, he has been quiet all season, having recorded just 11 goal contributions in 36 appearances. Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney could take Trossard’s position on the left wing for the time being.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
Arsenal could also opt to draft in an academy player to replace injured Kai Havertz. One name that has emerged as an option is Arsenal under-21 forward Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, who also traveled with the squad on their recent trip to Dubai.
Butler-Oyedeji has struck an impressive seven goals and six assists in ten under-21 matches for the club this season. He also made his senior debut earlier this season, coming on as a substitute against Dinamo Zagreb in the UCL. Academy stars Ismael Kabia and Charles Sagoe Jr. are the two other names also being considered. It remains to be seen what the club decides to do for the rest of the season.
Stay Updated!
Siddhartha Roy
(772 Articles Published)