Graeme Souness has taken a huge dig at Arsenalforward 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.