In the Premier League, the absence of a star player can be a major blow to a team’s chances, and several sides are already missing their star forwards this season.
Here, we look at how Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers have fared so far this campaign without their influential forwards.
1. Arsenal: Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz
Arsenal attack suffers blows with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz out. Gabriel Jesus has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
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The Brazil ace was key to Arsenal’s attacking play and his absence will leave a huge hole in their frontline. Jesus was in great form and was adding a lot of goals to Arsenal’s tally with his pace and clinical finishing.
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz has been ruled out for the season after suffering a hamstring injury during training in Dubai.
The 21-year-old German underwent surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Havertz was a key player for Arsenal, able to play in a number of attacking positions.
His versatility made him a valuable asset, but without him the Gunners have lacked a reliable substitute and their overall attacking fluidity has suffered as a result of that.
2. Chelsea: Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu
Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu joined the growing list of Chelsea players sidelined by injury. Jackson, one of the Blues’ most important players this season, suffered a hamstring injury and will be out until April.
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He is the only recognized striker at Chelsea now, leaving manager Enzo Maresca to play various attacking combinations. Jackson’s nine Premier League goals this season demonstrates how much he was missed.
Marc Guiu was injured and will miss at least three months. The injury to Guiu leaves Chelsea short in the attack and they have had to make do and mend.
The lack of a proven goalscorer has hampered their ability to collect points and stay in the hunt for a top-four finish.
3. Tottenham Hotspur: Richarlison and Dominic Solanke
Tottenham’s attack has been hit hard by the injuries to Richarlison and Dominic Solanke. The Brazil forward isn’t likely to be fit again until the end of the season because of a calf problem.
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He’s missed four games and Spurs have been deprived of a creative forward who is capable of creating and finishing goal-scoring chances. Richarlison is a physical presence who can stretch defenses.
Dominic Solanke, another key striker for Tottenham, has been out with a knee injury since mid-January. Solanke has been a regular goal threat for Tottenham and a focal point in their attack.
The lack of a consistent striker has forced manager Ange Postecoglou to rely on alternative options, which have not yielded the desired results.
4. West Ham United: Michail Antonio
West Ham’s Michail Antonio has been out since December after a serious car crash in which he broke his lower leg.
Antonio’s absence has been a massive blow to West Ham’s attacking capabilities. The forward’s strength, pace and play-holding ability made him a key component of the Hammers’ attack. But Antonio’s injury has left the Hammers struggling to replace him.
Goal scoring and league position have been affected, with less experienced players being utilised. The club’s league standing has dipped.
5. Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hee-chan Hwang
Wolves have struggled since losing star striker Hee-chan Hwang to a hamstring injury. Without Hwang, Wolves have lacked an attacking threat, finding it hard to score goals and pick up points.
They have struggled to find a suitable replacement and have posted a string of disappointing results, most recently losing 1-2 to Liverpool.
With Wolves battling relegation, the lack of goal threat from Hwang has become a major problem, and the team needs to find an alternative solution.
In conclusion, the loss of star strikers has had a significant impact on these Premier League teams.
The absence of key forwards has disrupted their attacking strategies, leading to inconsistent performances and a struggle to achieve their season objectives.
As these players work towards their recovery, their teams will need to find ways to adapt and overcome the challenges posed by their injuries.