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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

Can Arsenal sign a striker after Kai Havertz injury?

Ruled out: Kai Havertz - (AP)

Arsenal are facing a striker shortage following a devastating injury to forward Kai Havertz.

The Gunners' title chances have been dealt another injury blow amid fears the forward could be ruled out for the rest of the season.

It follows Gabriel Jesus being ruled out for at least six months with a serious knee injury, and Gabriel Martinelli being sidelined for weeks with a thigh complaint.

Bukayo Saka may not be back until April after tearing his hamstring in December.

Arsenal decided against signing a striker during the January transfer window, which closed last week. A bid for Ollie Watkins was made but quickly rejected by Aston Villa.

Mikel Arteta said in the days after that he was "disappointed" by the club's lack of transfer activity during the window, but noted that the quality desired was not available mid-season.

Can Arsenal sign a striker after Kai Havertz injury?

Yes. Despite the transfer window closing last week, Arsenal can still sign players.

However, desperate times may call for desperate measures.

There are a number of free agents who can be signed and registered to play in the Premier League, with Arsenal using only 22 of their 25 squad spots.

Any new signing, though, would not be eligible for Champions League football after the squad submitted last week.

Lucas Perez playing for Arsenal in 2016 (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Carlos Vela scoring on his first start for Arsenal in 2008 (Getty Images)

Former Arsenal forwards Lucas Perez, Carlos Vela and Yaya Sanogo are all currently without a club.

Perez terminated his contract with Deportivo La Coruna a little over two weeks ago, citing "personal reasons". He had scored four goals in 19 games in the first half of the season.

Vela is again without a club after a short second spell with LA Galaxy, while Sanogo was last seen playing for second-tier side Qingdao Red Lions in China.

Other notable free agents include former Chelsea striker Diego Costa. Now 36 years old, Costa recently left Brazilian outfit Gremio.

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