Arsenal take on Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium this evening but are without Kai Havertz due to an illness, according to the Sun journalist Jordan Davies.
The Germany international has been a regular in the matchday squad for the Gunners, featuring in 17 Premier League games so far, and his absence tonight will come as a disappointment for manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal will hope they have enough firepower to get the job done against the Bees in their first game of 2025 given the absence of Havertz and Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal are back in action on Saturday with a trip to American Express Stadium to take on Brighton & Hove Albion, and Arteta will be hoping to receive a much-needed boost with the return of Havertz.
The 25-year-old has seven goals and two assists in 17 league games so far, and the Gunners need him to be fully fit and available during the second half of the 2024-25 campaign.
Arsenal need a win tonight to keep up with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table, and they are expected to bolster their attacking ranks during the ongoing transfer window to boost their title chances.
Saka will spend almost the next three months out of action due to a long-term injury, and Arteta could do with another quality option in the final third as he looks to mount a stronger challenge for the Premier League during the coming months.
Arsenal have been unlucky with injuries so far this term and will pray things get better fitness-wise as the campaign progresses, but they may need to do business in the transfer window this month to give themselves a realistic chance of winning the title ahead of Liverpool and others.
