[EPL] Havertz, Martinelli injuries: Real crisis or Arsenal’s mind games?

Arsenal player, Kai Havertz [Credit: @PremierLeague | X]

Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes have been dealt a massive blow, with reports indicating that Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are set for extended spells on the sidelines due to hamstring injuries.

Multiple reports suggest that the German international has suffered a season-ending injury.

Havertz, Arsenal’s top scorer this season with 15 goals across all competitions, reportedly sustained the injury during the club’s recent warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein on Wednesday, the German forward has torn his hamstring and is “set to miss the rest of the season.”

Meanwhile, Martinelli, who was forced off in Arsenal’s EFL Cup semi-final second-leg defeat to Newcastle United, is also facing a significant spell out.

Ornstein had earlier reported that the Brazilian “faces more than a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.”

After the match, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed: “He felt something. I think it was his hamstring, and he wasn’t comfortable to continue, so we have to have an MRI scan tomorrow to see the extent of the injury.”

Havertz injury: Genuine, mind games or strategic exaggeration?

While multiple reports suggest Arsenal’s Havertz faces a serious injury crisis, some rival fans have questioned the timing and severity of the claims, hinting at the possibility of strategic exaggeration — a tactic Arsenal have been accused of in the past.

PUNCH Online reports on Thursday that, as of the time of filing this report, the club had yet to make an official statement regarding Havertz’s true condition, which has been circulating widely since Tuesday night.

This leaves room for speculation over whether the reported setbacks are as severe as suggested or if Arsenal are engaging in “mind games” ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.

Arsenal’s attacking woes deepen

These latest injuries leave Arteta without four of his five highest goal contributors this season.

Bukayo Saka is still recovering from a hamstring issue and is not expected back until at least March.

Last month, Arteta said: “That’s not going to change. We have to respect the healing process, and then he has a lot of stages to go through in his rehab.”

Gabriel Jesus is also sidelined after sustaining an ACL knee injury during Arsenal’s FA Cup tie against Manchester United in January.

The club confirmed that the Brazilian forward “would undergo surgery” following the injury.

With Arsenal failing to strengthen their attack during the January transfer window, Arteta expressed his frustration at the lack of reinforcements.

“We had a clear intention, which is always there when a window is open—to explore opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it,” he said in a recent press conference.

“We haven’t achieved it, so we are disappointed in that sense. But at the same time, we are very aware that we only want to bring in certain kinds of players, and we have to be very disciplined with that.”

When asked if he viewed Arsenal’s lack of activity as a gamble, Arteta responded: “It’s not a gamble, it’s reality. I think we have to face the reality as well that we have.”

Critical fixtures ahead

Arsenal, currently second in the Premier League table and trailing leaders Liverpool by seven points, face a crucial run of fixtures.

They travel to Leicester City on 15 February, followed by matches against West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, and Chelsea.

With their attacking options severely depleted, Arteta will need to find solutions quickly if Arsenal are to maintain their title challenge.