Arsenal Lose Havertz, Olmo Becomes Main Target in January Window

Arsenal will be without Kai Havertz for an undetermined period after the German forward picked up an injury while playing for his country in a friendly against the Netherlands on Friday (5/9). Havertz was withdrawn in the 30th minute and returned straight to London for medical examinations with the Arsenal team.

The injury is a major blow for The Gunners, who have been relying on Havertz as their main striker. Since the start of the 2026/27 season, manager Mikel Arteta has preferred Havertz to Viktor Gyokeres in the number nine position. That decision has proven effective: Havertz scored two goals in the first five matches, while Arsenal won four and drew one.

However, the reliance on Havertz leaves a big gap. Gyokeres, who was signed for a hefty fee, has instead been pushed out of the starting eleven. The Swedish player has not started a single Premier League match this season; his two appearances came only in the Carabao Cup and the Champions League, without a goal. Arteta is seen as no longer trusting Gyokeres as a main option, even though last season he scored 14 league goals.

Concern over Havertz's injuries is nothing new. Throughout his career, he has been sidelined several times by muscle and ankle problems. If this injury is serious enough, Arsenal could run out of options up front, especially with a packed domestic and European schedule in the coming weeks.

Arsenal's management is also said to be making moves. According to a TEAMtalk report, the club has held talks with representatives of Dani Olmo, the Barcelona forward who is also a target for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Olmo, who has just won the World Cup with Spain, has a profile similar to Havertz: an attacking midfielder who can play as a false nine in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

"Olmo is a football genius," said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, as quoted in the report.

Last season, Olmo recorded 15 goals and assists in La Liga, mostly while playing in a central position. Statistics show he is in the top 14% of La Liga forwards for shots, and creates 4.2 chances per 90 minutes—the highest at Barcelona. His ability to score and provide assists makes him a fit for Arteta's style, which demands flexibility in the forward line.

For Arsenal, signing Olmo in January is not without risk. The price for the 28-year-old could inflate, and Barcelona may be reluctant to let him go amid a title race. However, the need for a new forward becomes more urgent if Havertz is out for a long time. The failure to sign a striker last summer is now under scrutiny, and the winter window is a chance to correct that mistake.

From an Indonesian perspective, this transfer saga is worth watching. Arsenal is one of the clubs with the largest fan bases in the country, and their every move is always a hot topic on social media. If Olmo does join, it would add to the Premier League's appeal in the Southeast Asian market, including Indonesia, where the league's broadcast rights remain a major draw. In addition, Arsenal's decision to sign a player like Olmo could signal that European clubs are increasingly serious about using the winter window to strengthen their squads, a trend that other big clubs may follow.

The question is, will Arsenal move quickly or repeat last summer's mistake? With Havertz injury-prone and Gyokeres out of favour, Arteta does not have much time to wait. The January transfer window will be a test of Arsenal's ambition to defend their title.