What the hell are Arsenal going to do without Kai Havertz? | OneFootball

Arsenal's injury crisis has been exacerbated by the news that Kai Havertz - their only remaining senior centre-forward - will be sidelined for the rest of the season.

The Emirates Stadium has sometimes been left exasperated by the German's profligacy but their patience will now be put to the ultimate test following his campaign-ending hamstring injury. With Gabriel Jesus already out for the rest of the term and wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli also in the treatment room as well, things could get ugly in the closing months of the season.

Mikel Arteta, who is still chasing Premier League and Champions League success, will be forced to conjure up some creative solutions after Arsenal opted against reinforcing their forward unit during the recent January transfer window.

Here are three options for Arsenal as they look to survive without a number nine...

Employ Leandro Trossard as a striker

Leandro Trossard is renowned for his versatility / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

Arsenal have been left with just three forward options until their injured attackers return, with loanee Raheem Sterling, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri and the inconsistent Leandro Trossard all that remain. The latter is most likely to fill the void formed by injuries to Havertz and Jesus, with the Belgian having been used as a number nine sporadically during his time in north London.

Arteta will have little choice in the short-term as the versatile 30-year-old becomes his strongest option up front and the Arsenal boss will be desperately hopeful that Trossard can prove passable cover at the very least.

Trossard would likely operate in a false nine role that allows his clever movement and impressive agility to dumbfound centre-backs, with those either side of him operating in the space forged in behind opposition defences.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion star isn't enjoying the greatest season of his career, however, and will have to improve upon recent performances. He's managed just five goals all term, compared to 17 in all competitions last season.

Promote academy talent

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji is an option / Malcolm Couzens/GettyImages

Many of the world's most talented superstars have benefitted from first-team injuries to earn their breakthroughs. That will be the hope that Arteta clutches to as he frantically searches for solutions, with Arsenal's impressive academy setup likely to be called upon for the remainder of the season.

In terms of strikers, there are not an abundance of options knocking on the first-team door at present, but Nathan Butler-Oyedeji is one who has made an impression this season. The 22-year-old earned his Arsenal debut against Dinamo Zagreb in January and has been on the bench for 12 matches in total this term.

He has been loaned to Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham Town in recent seasons - without great success - and has been prolific with the academy. Khayon Edwards has also been in fine form within Arsenal's youth teams and made seven appearances for League One side Leyton Orient last term.

When it comes to wide forwards, Ismeal Kabia - who also made his Arsenal debut this term - and Charles Sagoe Jr - who was on loan at Shrewsbury for the first half of the current campaign - are those Arteta could turn to. Both are highly-rated and may earn minutes between now and the end of the season.

Diego Costa is one of a handful of uninspiring free agent options / Pedro H. Tesch/GettyImages

Desperate times call for desperate measures and Arsenal could be forced to turn to the murky waters of the free agent market. With the winter transfer window having slammed shut in early February, the Gunners have no choice but to target unattached players should they choose to bolster their squad from the outside.

There are not many inspiring names to choose from, with former Chelsea star Diego Costa among the veterans available. Ex-Arsenal forwards Lucas Perez and Carlos Vela are other emergency options.

A short contract until the end of the current campaign could be rolled out to a player with top-flight experience, but it's still difficult to imagine Arsenal recruiting a 35-year-old has-been.