Arsenal are facing a significant injury setback just days into the new Premier League season, which might drive the Gunners back to the transfer market in search of an attacking player, as per a report.

Kai Havertz has encountered another fitness challenge due to a knee injury, leading to his absence from Arsenal’s open training session at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday morning.

Havertz, 26, missed the latter part of last season after suffering a severe hamstring issue during the Gunners’ mid-season training camp in Dubai.

With Gabriel Jesus sidelined long-term due to an ACL injury sustained in January, new signing Viktor Gyokeres is Arteta’s sole fit striker option.

The Gunners are now weighing up a shock summer swoop for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, according to The Sun.

The 23-year-old forward, who had a highly successful season under Unai Emery, was named the PFA’s Young Player of the Year at the awards gala in Manchester on Tuesday night.

Aiming to enhance Arteta’s squad with a new attacking talent to compete with Gabriel Martinelli, the north London club was reportedly already eyeing a move for the Aston Villa player even prior to Havertz’s recent setback.

Arsenal’s interest in Rogers is believed to have only accelerate further now the German is set for a spell on the sidelines, with Villa believed to value the England international at £80m.

Throughout the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, both Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard operated in central roles up front when Havertz and Jesus were sidelined for lengthy periods. 

The news will come as a blow to Arteta, with Havertz having replaced Gyokeres after an hour of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.  

Although Gyokeres was picked to start his team’s Premier League opener, Havertz being sidelined will present a headache to Arteta given the German’s versatility – that allows him to be deployed in central midfield or as a number nine. 

His injury comes amid speculation that the north London side were already in the market for further attacking reinforcements. 

One potential target is Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who was an unused substitute in their 1-0 win over Osasuna on Tuesday night. 

However, Los Blancos manager Xabi Alonso has downplayed the Brazilian’s absence, which he said was due to tactical reasons. 

He stated: ‘These are match decisions. The way the match was going, we needed another profile. There have been no decisions for the future.

‘Nothing is going on. The Club World Cup was a different context because of the competition it was. Today it’s just one game, we can leave the rest behind.

‘What counts is this season and of course I’m counting on Rodrygo. It’s just one game, we shouldn’t read too far into the future.

‘If he gets those minutes in three months’ time, I’ll be able to answer you with more certainty. Today it was just the circumstances of the game and my decisions.’

Any potential incomings for Arsenal are likely to have to come after sales of fringe players such as Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson. 

Leandro Trossard has managed to secure a pay rise while his deal will still expire in 2027 – as a result of Arsenal previously said to have acknowledged that his role within the team is not reflected by his contract terms in comparison to some of Mikel Arteta’s other key players, per The Athletic. 

The publication adds that it is unlikely the Belgian international will leave the Emirates Stadium before the transfer window shuts on September 1.

Per salary tracking website Capology, his previous deal was claimed to earn him £90,000 per week – with his new wages still unknown.

Trossard joined Arsenal from Brighton in January 2023 in a deal worth £27million and has scored 28 goals to go with 23 assists in 124 games for the north London club.