It looks like Arsenal are reacting to that disastrous Kai Havertz injury news as they pick up the pieces ahead of the Premier League title run-in.
The Gunners now trail Liverpool by just four points at the top of the table after two late Mikel Merino goals gave them a priceless 2-0 win at Leicester on Saturday lunchtime. Now they wait to see if leaders Liverpool can match that against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday.
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Arsenal are making moves off the pitch too, with reports now claiming they are beefing up their attempts to sign a top striker during the coming summer transfer window.
The major targets so far are RB Leipzig prodigy Benjamin Sesko and Newcastle Utd superstar Alexander Isak. But now there is another candidate quickly moving to the front rank – Atalanta’s hugely impressive Mateo Retegui.
Gunners make Retegui contact
The Italy international has netted an astonishing 23 goals in 34 appearances this season, while also adding four assists.
Despite injury problems in December, he has been nothing short of sensational in 2025. In five Serie A games since the turn of the year, he has netted an absurd eight goals – including a four-goal haul against Hellas Verona last week.
According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal have already ‘made contact’ with Atalanta to discuss a potential summer move. Man Utd and other European top clubs are also thought to be keen on the Argentina-born striker.
Atalanta, it is claimed, will ask for around €60 million for Retegui, who only joined the Bergamo outfit last summer for around €21m. It’s a hefty fee but it would still make him cheaper than Isak or Sesko, for example.
Arsenal striker crisis
The Gunners’ striker situation is looking dire for the remainder of this season after Havertz suffered a long-term injury during their warm-weather training camp in Dubai. The German will miss the rest of the season with a torn hamstring which will require surgery, as will Gabriel Jesus (ACL). Gabriel Martinelli meanwhile has also suffered a long-term hamstring problem.
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Internally, the Gunners brain trust still believe that they made the right call by not wasting their summer budget on a ‘panic signing’ in January, but Arteta has admitted that he may be forced into some strange personnel decisions in the wake of the injury crisis.
Against Leicester on Saturday, Leandro Trossard started in the nominal No.9 position, but it was ultimately midfielder Merino who spared the Gunners’ blushes with that crucial late brace.