Former Premier League star Les Ferdinand fears Kai Havertz will miss the rest of the season after the Arsenal star was forced off in the win over Newcastle United.
The Gunners moved three points clear at the summit of the Premier League once again with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Magpies in front of a nervy Emirates crowd on Saturday.
Eberechi Eze scored the game’s only goal with a superb strike from range but was forced off later in the second-half.
Arsenal had already lost Havertz by that point. After being involved in the goal, the Germany international went down off the ball on 33 minutes with an issue with his groin or upper leg area.
Havertz limped off the pitch and went straight down the tunnel for treatment with Viktor Gyokeres brought onto replace him.
Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta said the issue was a ‘muscular issue’ and was hopeful his forward would be available for next week’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright was not convinced, however, admitting he was ‘quite concerned’ with what he believes will be a ‘lengthy’ injury blow for his old side.
Get personalised football updates every day
Sign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more about your favourite team.
Alongside Wright was former Newcastle and Tottenham star Ferdinand who feared the worst for the German.
‘That looks like a recurrence of one he has had before and you can tell by his face as he walked off straight down the tunnel that you don’t expect to see him any time soon,’ Ferdinand told Premier League Productions.
Havertz missed the final four months of last season with a hamstring injury that required surgery. He featured on the opening day of the current campaign against Manchester United but was then sidelined again after undergoing what the club initially described as ‘minor’ knee surgery.
He did not play until January, starting 10 games since returning to action.
Havertz was preferred up top against Manchester City last week with Gyokeres left on the bench with Arsenal’s attack more fluid with him in it, also aided by the presence of Eze and Martin Odegaard.
Should Havertz miss the rest of the season, Ferdinand fears it will leave a major problem for Arteta to solve.
‘He [Havertz] leads the line really well and gets himself into good positions where he can link the play for Arsenal.
‘That is what they are missing with Viktor, he hasn’t been able to link it quite as well as Havertz and when he [Havertz] is there, Arsenal have a focal point and they can play off him. That will be a real big miss for them.’