Arsenal striker Kai Havertz has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury he suffered while warm-weather training in Dubai.
Mikel Arteta's side are currently six points behind table-topping Liverpool and have played a game more, but with Havertz being their only out-and-out striker after Gabriel Jesus ruptured his ACL, Arsenal's failure to bring in another frontman in the January transfer window now looks like it could end their bid for the Premier League crown.
It is not yet known just how severe the injury is, but with Havertz, Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all missing, the Gunners' firepower up front has taken a massive hit.
Arteta tried to bring in Aston Villa and England forward Ollie Watkins in the January window, but a bid was rejected by Unai Emery's club, who sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, while also taking Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United.
Arsenal were in Dubai trying to replicate the success of last season's trip, after which they won 16 of their next 18 games. But this fresh blow puts a dampener on their title ambitions.
The Gunners flew out to the Middle East last week after their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg defeat to Newcastle, while they had no game last weekend thanks to their loss to United in the FA Cup.
This weekend they travel to Leicester for the early Saturday kick-off, while games at home to West Ham and away to Nottingham Forest are their matches for the rest of February.
Germany international Havertz, 25, scored in the Gunners' last Premier League outing, the 5-1 win over Manchester City, while he has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season in 34 games.
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