Mikel Arteta's side have endured injury after injury so far this year, and based on preliminary reports from last night, Kai Havertz is the latest player set to spend some time on the sidelines.
The German international has supposedly suffered a hamstring injury while on the club's training trip in Dubai, although the extent of the problem is still unknown.
Havertz's 24/25
Appearances
34
Starts
30
Minutes
2776'
Goals
15
Assists
5
Goal Involvements per Match
0.58
Minutes per Goal Involvements
138.8
All Stats via Transfermarkt
The former Chelsea ace has come in for plenty of criticism at points this season but has still produced 20 goal involvements in just 34 games, so replacing his output could prove challenging, although a youngster in the academy could be one option.
Arsenal's first-team options to replace Havertz
If Arteta is going to turn to his already depleted first-team options to try and solve the problem of Havertz's absence, then there are likely a couple of routes he could go down, the first of which is starting Leandro Trossard or Raheem Sterling down the middle.
Trossard-Arsenal
Now, out of the two wingers, it certainly feels more likely that he'd move the Belgian into the middle, as while he's never looked entirely comfortable there for the North Londoners, his numbers are reasonably impressive: four goals and eight assists in 15 appearances.
In contrast, while the Englishman has spent more time down the middle in his career to date, he's only made one appearance there for the Gunners, and considering he's scored one goal and provided two assists in 18 appearances this season, he's not someone you want in those goalscoring positions.
arsenal-raheem-sterling-transfer
The second and more unlikely way the manager could address this problem within the first team is by moving the sensationally gifted Ethan Nwaneri from the right to up top.
After all, only a couple of months ago, Arteta told the press how he sees a future in which the teenage dynamo develops into an out-and-out nine.
Moreover, on top of already scoring seven goals this season, the Enfield-born star has made nine appearances down the middle in the youth sides, in which he scored 11 goals and provided two assists.
In all, it seems likely that Arteta will turn to the three players mentioned above to try and plug the gap left by Havertz, but he could help alleviate the load on the trio by handing one of the club's young academy stars some unexpected minutes in the first team.
Ethan Nwaneri for Arsenal
The Hale End star who could help replace Havertz
Arsenal's worryingly thin squad has already been significantly bolstered this season by Nwaneri and the incredible Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Lewis-Skelly-Arsenal-Trossard-Rice-Nwaneri-Calafiori
Still, given the circumstances, it might be time for Arteta to introduce another academy talent to the Emirates faithful.
Dan Casey has been a part of the club's youth set-up for just under a decade now, and since moving up to the U18s squad last season, he has been spectacular.
The "very talented" 17-year-old, as dubbed by Hale End expert Jeorge Bird, is a versatile attacker, and while he's primarily played in midfield during his time in the academy, this season has seen him make five of 17 appearances up top, where he's found the back of the net four times.
However, when including his games in the middle of the park as well, the teenage prospect has managed to rack up a tally of 11 goals and one assist, which is undeniably encouraging.
Casey's 24/25
Position
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Centre-Forward
5
4
0
Attacking Midfield
4
3
1
Central Midfield
4
2
0
Defensive Midfield
1
2
0
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Now, it would be a massive step-up to bring him into the first team this season, but he's shown he's already better than the level he's currently playing at, and given how well Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have adapted, there is no reason to think he couldn't do the same.
Moreover, with Sterling and Trossard in the side, he wouldn't have to start too many games; he could simply come off the bench here and there to pick up valuable minutes and ensure the senior players aren't played into the ground.
Ultimately, Arsenal are in an attacking crisis at the moment, and while there probably weren't plans to introduce Casey into the first team this season, the circumstances dictate he might have to be fast-tracked.
kai-havertz-arsenal-champions-league
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