Arsenal suffer devastating blow as key player ruled out for the season

Arsenal have been dealt a crushing injury blow as one of Mikel Arteta's main players has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

The Arsenal squad are in Dubai for a warm-weather training camp ahead of resuming their Premier League campaign on Saturday.

The Gunners, who are six points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, travel to the King Power Stadium to face Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City.

Ahead of the Leicester clash, Arteta has been dealt a massive injury blow.

According to David Ornstein, Kai Havertz is set to miss the rest of the season after sustaining a torn hamstring during the team's training camp in Dubai.

Havertz was assessed on Tuesday after suffering a hamstring injury and it is unclear whether he will require surgery on the problem.

Per the report, the 25-year-old's focus is on getting fit for the start of the 2025/26 season.

His absence adds to Arsenal's issues up front, with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus all already sidelined.

Saka is set to be out of action until March after undergoing hamstring surgery in December. Martinelli is not expected to return to action for around a month after picking up a hamstring injury of his own against Newcastle United.

As for Jesus, he's set for a lengthy spell out after sustaining an ACL injury in his left knee last month.

Kai Havertz during an Arsenal training session in Dubai. Image: Getty

Havertz had been available for almost every game for Arteta this season.

He has made 34 appearances in all competitions, scoring 15 goals - including a goal in his side's big 5-1 win over Manchester City.

Arsenal were looking to recruit a forward during the January transfer window but to no avail.

They had pursued Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, having tabled a bid for the England international.

But the club's offer was rejected as they opted for long-term targets in the summer window.

Arsenal, who are in thick of the title race, also remain in the Champions League as they fight on two fronts this season.