Kai Havertz will miss the remainder of the Premier League season with a hamstring injury. It leaves Arsenal with no recognized center-forwards as it looks to compete with Liverpool for the title.

According to The Athletic, while it's not clear whether Havertz will need surgery yet, scans confirmed a hamstring tear after he pulled up at Arsenal's warm-weather training camp in Dubai. His focus is on being ready for the start of next season.

It comes as a huge blow for Arsenal, who actively searched for a new attacker in the January transfer window, only to come up short. There are now major question marks over how it will be able to compete with Liverpool for the remainder of the Premier League campaign.

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Incidentally, greater focus could now fall on former Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling. His spell at Arsenal has been underwhelming to date, but he is currently one of just three fit attackers, alongside Leandro Trossard and youngster Ethan Nwaneri.

Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are both out until at least March. Havertz joins Gabriel Jesus in being sidelined for the remainder of the campaign, leaving Mikel Arteta severely short on options.

It comes amid an intense period. Liverpool, for its part, is playing five times in the next 15 days, starting with a vitally important Merseyside Derby that could see the Reds move nine points clear.

Arsenal has a slightly more forgiving run, with Leicester City up next at the weekend. There's then a week's gap before hosting West Ham, but a midweek trip to Nottingham Forest looms before the end of the month.

After that, Arteta will hope to welcome some key players back into the fold. But Havertz will not be one of them, meaning Arsenal will essentially have to navigate the entirety of the rest of the campaign without a genuine striker.

Havertz had come under fire at times this season for lacking clinical instincts, a criticism that has followed him throughout his time in England. But he has contributed 15 goals and five assists for Arsenal in all competitions, a contribution that will certainly be missed.

Liverpool will not, however, be taking anything for granted. Arsenal has been the master of the ugly win this season, relying heavily on goals from set pieces — as long as Gabriel is fit, that threat remains very much intact.

For Arne Slot, seeking to win a title in his maiden season, the challenge remains exactly the same. He will be focusing on his own team, starting with a massive game this evening.