27
7
2
Total
38
24
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Finally, Havertz is the latest forward to suffer from a hamstring injury and is set to miss the rest of the campaign, which is a serious problem; as for all the criticism he receives, the German is the team's top scorer, with 15 goals and five assists to his name this season.
Altogether, Arsenal's injured attackers have scored 38 goals and provided 24 assists so far this season, so it would be apt to describe the current situation as a crisis, one which might require Arteta to play one of the academy's best players this season to ensure the likes of Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling aren't overplayed and injured as well.
The Hale End star who has to play this season
Fortunately, with players like Khayon Edwards, Ismeal Kabia, Andre Harriman-Annous, and Charles Sagoe Jr, Arsenal have several promising youth stars who can potentially provide cover for the injured first-teamers.
Arsenal Hale End U21 Top scorers (timeless)
However, suppose the manager wants someone to step up from the youth teams and potentially make an instant impact.
In that case, he might be better off calling up Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, as, unlike some of the other options, he has just turned 22, so the physical demands of senior football should be less of a step-up.
Arsenal's Nathan Butler-Oyedeji during the warm up before the match.
Reuters/Matthew Childs.
Moreover, while he hasn't exactly impressed on his previous loan spells, he has been in electric form for the academy this season.
For example, in just 13 games, totalling 1126 minutes, the "dangerous" attacker, as dubbed by journalist Layth Yousif, has scored eight goals and provided six assists.
Butler-Oyedeji's 24/25
Appearances
13
Minutes
1126'
Goals
8
Assists
6
Goal Involvements per Match
1.07
Minutes per Goal Involvement
80.42'
All Stats via Transfermarkt
That means the 5 foot 10 dynamo is averaging a goal involvement every 0.92 games, or in other words, every 80.42 minutes, which is a pretty impressive rate of return regardless of the level.
In the pipeline
In The Pipeline
Ultimately, Arteta shouldn't be looking to hand Butler-Oyedeji a ton of minutes over the coming months, but given the situation the club find themselves in, he should be giving him enough to ensure the rest of the first team are not completely run into the ground in Havertz's absence.
Trossard-Arsenal
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