Arteta on Havertz's injury and striker options

After seeing Kai Havertz ruled out for the rest of the season during our training camp in Dubai, Mikel Arteta admits it’s a huge setback but a challenge he is willing to take on.

Our German striker damaged his hamstring during our warm-weather training camp and will require surgery, leaving us short on attacking options with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli also sidelined for the foreseeable future.

But having constantly juggled his line-up due to the majority of his first-team stars also suffering lengthy injuries throughout a campaign that still sees us fighting for the Premier League and Champions League, the boss believes we can continue to adapt and find the necessary solutions while remaining successful, starting with Saturday’s visit to Leicester City.

Reflecting on the moment Kai’s injury occurred, the boss said: “We were having a great camp in Dubai recharging, training, having some time off and connecting again with nature in a different environment, and then the injury happened in a very unexpected way. He was going to stop a shot after a set-piece, then he stretched the leg and felt his hamstring.

“Certainly it is a big blow because of the injuries that we have but fortunately, we've been through a lot this season. We have played without Gabriel, without Saliba, Ben White all season, Tomiyasu all season, Calafiori for two months, Merino for two months, Martin Odegaard for two months, Bukayo Saka for three months, Gabriel Jesus… all of them.

“That’s the challenge ahead. I love it and look forward because we are still where we are with all the things I mentioned on top of playing four times with 10 men. Let's see what the team is made of. We've been through a lot and we have sustained the level of performance and results until this point, so we are more than capable of doing it."

With four key forwards in the treatment room, Mikel admits he will have to be creative with whoever gets the nod to start up top at the King Power Stadium, with Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri all mentioned as potential replacements for Kai.

While none of those trio are recognised number nines in Kai's mould and would change the way we play, the boss feels that could provide us with a little bit of unpredictability which could potential be a benefit during the run-in.

When asked about his options up front, he was asked about Ethan whom he’d recently suggested could be a striker long-term. “I think it’s [more about] when, I think it's in there as [a possibility] more than a necessity,” Mikel added. “He’s been playing as an attacking midfielder and on the right wing and I think it's been really good in that position, so that's fine.

“[Raheem] has been much more involved recently on merit and he’s earned the right to do so. Obviously now in terms of the minutes and availability we have those players, all the players are going to have more exposure and certainly Raz will be one of them.

“It’s for other players as well, and for Leo [Trossard] to probably play in two or three different positions. It's between all of us, we have mentioned that many times. It’s adding value from different players. It’s probably been a little bit different in adapting to the qualities and the strengths of our players so go for it, the spirit is pretty certainly the same.

“There are certain things that we’re going to have to adapt, and it brings other opportunities because we’re going to have a different frontline of players that are very unpredictable, so good in 1-v-1s, very creative, very sharp. It’s going to give different headaches to the opposition.”