Injuries have crippled a squad which Arteta has freely described as “thin”, leaving Arsenal without a recognised centre-forward for most of the campaign’s conclusion. Arteta acknowledged the “need” for more recruits in what he billed as “a very exciting summer”.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Kai Havertz has undergone a "transformation in his body" while being injured and claimed he "destroyed all the metrics we had in the gym for the last 10 years."