Arsenal are expected to first look at the loan and bargain basement markets if Kai Havertz is ruled out for a prolonged period of time with a knee injury.

The German forward spent almost the entire second half of last season sidelined with a severe hamstring problem. Mikel Arteta was forced to convert central midfielder Mikel Merino into a striker, prompting a considerable dip in attacking threat which led to another failed Arsenal title challenge.