Arsenal start the new year on the road, as the Gunners travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford.
Starting 2025 in third place in the Premier League table is not where Mikel Arteta would want his side to be.
Arsenal have had an injury-laden start to 2024/25, with the latest casualty being a real blow, as Bukayo Saka underwent surgery.
Now that it’s understood that Saka will be out for weeks to repair a hamstring injury, Arteta has a challenge to identify the Englishman’s replacement.
Kai Havertz makes history by missing Arsenal clash against Brentford
When the team news was announced, it became clear that Arteta is not overly satisfied with replacing Saka with Gabriel Martinelli.
That is because the Arsenal manager handed 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri his first Premier League start, naming the teenager as the right winger on the night to play the Bees.
Nwaneri is a strong candidate to replace Saka however, the youngster’s involvement was not the only talking point from Arteta’s selection.
Immediately, it was noticed that Kai Havertz was not named in the squad to play Brentford, with it believed that the German misses out due to illness.
Such is significant not only as his absence weakens Arteta’s options but, because it’s a scenario that the Gunners have yet to experience.
For the first time since joining Arsenal in 2023, Havertz misses a game due to injury or illness, with his only other absences coming as a result of suspension.
Brentford a perfect chance for Gabriel Jesus
Fortunately, Havertz’s illness comes at a strangely ideal time, as Gabriel Jesus has recently found form as Arsenal’s number nine.
The Brazilian has been trusted by Arteta to lead the line in recent games as a result, with his stay as the Gunners’ leading striker set to extend amid Havertz’s absence.
It’s the perfect opportunity for the 27-year-old to really cement his spot as Arsenal’s centre-forward, with the forward surely hoping to start 2025 with a bang.
For now, the striker will hope to make another impact in the final third, as Arteta leans on Jesus to bridge the gap whilst Havertz is unavailable.
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