Arsenal’s lack of attacking reinforcements in the January transfer window is now looking like a major oversight.
The club has been hit with a fresh injury blow as Kai Havertz has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
The German international suffered a severe hamstring injury while Arsenal was on a warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
This latest setback compounds the fitness crisis Mikel Arteta is already dealing with, as Havertz joins Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka on the injury list.
With both Havertz and Jesus unavailable for the rest of the 2024/25 campaign, Arsenal faces a serious crisis up front.
The Gunners now lack a recognized striker, leaving Arteta with limited options.
Only Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and young prospect Ethan Nwaneri remain available for selection in the attacking department.
Since the transfer window has closed, Arsenal will have to either promote young players from their academy or look for unattached players who can be signed as free agents.
Given their current injury situation, they might not have the luxury of being too selective when searching for a temporary solution.
Here are six strikers currently without a club who could potentially help Arsenal navigate their striker crisis.
Wissam Ben Yedder
Former Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder has a proven track record as a prolific goal scorer in Ligue 1.
Over his time with the French club, he netted 118 goals in 201 appearances.
However, signing the 34-year-old would be highly controversial, as he was convicted of sexual assault in November 2024 and received a two-year suspended prison sentence.
Maxi Gómez
Uruguayan forward Maxi Gómez, once considered a future star, is surprisingly without a club at just 28 years old.
He made a name for himself at Celta Vigo, scoring 30 goals in two seasons before securing a move to Valencia.
However, his output declined significantly at Valencia, where he found the net just 23 times in three seasons.
A stint at Trabzonspor in Turkey followed, along with a loan spell at Cádiz last season.
Unfortunately, he endured a disastrous campaign in Spain, failing to score in 33 appearances.
Despite this alarming form, Gómez’s physical presence might offer Arsenal a useful focal point in attack.
Mariano Díaz
A former Real Madrid academy product, Mariano Díaz was once regarded as a promising talent.
He showcased his goal-scoring ability for the club’s reserve team, netting 32 goals in 44 games, and later impressed on loan at Lyon, where he scored 21 times in a single season.
However, upon returning to Madrid, he failed to establish himself and eventually moved to Sevilla in the 2023/24 season.
His spell there was underwhelming, as he failed to score in 13 appearances.
Now 31 and without a club, Díaz wouldn’t be the most exciting option for Arsenal, but he does have experience playing at a high level.
Diego Costa
Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa is another name available in the free-agent market.
The fiery forward, known for his physicality and aggression, has been without a club since the end of last year.
He most recently played in Brazil for Botafogo and Grêmio, following a brief return to the Premier League with Wolves in 2022/23, where he scored just once in 25 appearances.
At 36, Costa is far from the player he once was, but his experience and combative style might still trouble defenders.
Lucas Pérez
A familiar face for Arsenal fans, Lucas Pérez had a short stint with the club, scoring seven times in 21 appearances.
After leaving Arsenal, he had brief spells with West Ham before returning to Spain, where he played for Deportivo La Coruña.
The 36-year-old was still active in the Spanish second division as recently as January 2025, scoring four goals and providing four assists in the first half of the season before departing for personal reasons.
Carlos Vela
Another former Arsenal player, Carlos Vela, has had a long and successful career since leaving North London.
The Mexican forward made 59 appearances for Arsenal in the early stages of his career before finding his best form at Real Sociedad.
In 2018, he moved to Major League Soccer, where he starred for LAFC, scoring 93 goals in 188 appearances.
Now 35, a return to Arsenal seems highly unlikely, but his versatility and experience make him an intriguing option.
While none of these free agents are ideal long-term solutions, Arsenal may have to take a gamble to get through the remainder of the season without a recognized striker.
