• Mikel Arteta has refused to rule out a creative solution to his side’s injury crisis
  • The Gunners are without a recognised striker after Kai Havertz was ruled out
  • LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Will Liverpool recover from Everton blow in season-defining week? 

By ADRIAN BISHOP

Mikel Arteta has been forced to think outside the box in the midst of Arsenal’s attacking injury crisis.

Everton’s last-minute equaliser on Wednesday has left the Gunners seven points off league leaders Liverpool as they look to close the gap with 14 games remaining in the title race.

However, the club were dealt a significant blow earlier this week when it was revealed that Kai Havertz suffered a serious hamstring injury during the club’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

Well-placed sources indicated that the injury will result in Havertz spending the remainder of the campaign on the sidelines.

The news comes as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus remain unavailable through injury.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s trip to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester on Saturday, Arteta insisted he is considering all available options to lead his line.

Mikel Arteta hasn’t ruled out playing a defender up front amid the club’s injury struggles

Kai Havertz has been sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with a hamstring injury

Kai Havertz has been sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with a hamstring injury 

Gunners legend Martin Keown questioned whether Riccardo Calafiori’s stature and presence could make him a suitable stand-in up front.

‘Well, it’s been done in the past,’ Arteta said on TNT Sports.

‘Obviously they have this capacity, because they become a threat, especially when the context of the game is with a lot of density in the box against low blocks. 

‘So it is an option that we have.’

Calafiori has already demonstrated his versatility in north London this season, having filled in at centre back in addition to playing on his preferred left side of defence.

During his time at Roma the 22-year-old was occasionally deployed as a left midfielder, but he has never previously played up front at senior level.

Earlier in the week, the club have confirmed that Havertz will have surgery in the coming days befoe undergoing a recovery and rehabilitation programme which will extend into pre-season.

‘Everyone at the club is fully focused on supporting Kai to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible,’ the club said in a statement on its website.  

The news arrives as a crushing blow to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who is already without several attacking players with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli all missing through injury.

Arteta admitted Riccardo Calafiori could serve as a stand-in striker in the German's absence

Arteta admitted Riccardo Calafiori could serve as a stand-in striker in the German’s absence

Havertz is the club’s top scorer this season with 15 goals and his absence will hit their ambitions of overhauling Liverpool at the top of the table this season.

Arsenal were criticised for not adding an attacker to their ranks during the January window and the injury to Havertz will only serve to intensify the backlash.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have explored the option of Takehiro Tomiyasu undergoing surgery to cure his long-standing knee problem.

The Japan defender has played just six minutes of football this season, coming on as a late substitute in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton in October following a three month recovery from a knee injury that saw him miss the start of the season.

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Mikel Arteta refuses to rule out using a DEFENDER as a No 9 amid Arsenal’s striker crisis – and vows to ‘get creative’ after Kai Havertz injury

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