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What William Saliba has already said which suggests he could cover for Kai Havertz as Arsenal striker

Arsenal have found themselves in a difficult situation up front as Kai Havertz is now likely to miss the rest of the season due to injury.

Kai Havertz sustained a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s warm-weather trainiꦆng camp in Dubai, with an assessment undertaken after the squad returned to London.

Scan results are understood to have confirmed that Havertz is unlikely to play again this season, although whether he wiꦍll require surgery is yet to be decided.

In addition, TBR Football understands that Arsenal will not look to the free transfer market in wake of the injury blow to Havertz.

As a result, the Gunners will need to look within their own ranks for a replacement, and Arsenal could perhaps proꦚmote a youth team player.

However, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has confirmed that Mikel Arteta could look at using one of hi🧸s defenders in attack.

And oneꦛ defender in particular has previously spoken of how he used to play as a st♕riker at youth level and not only did he love it, but he scored a lot of goals too.

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

READ MORE: Arsenal begin talks over extending forwar🐼d’s contrac♛t amid Kai Havertz injury news

William Saliba ‘scored a lot of goals’ as AS Bondy forward

The player in question is William Saliba, who played as a centre-fo♎rward for local club AS Bondy when he was a youngster.

He spoke at length with the Arsenal media teaꦺm about his formative years in football as he starte🐎d his journey in the game as a striker.

“We won 📖a lot of trophies… so that obviously𒈔 made the atmosphere really nice too,” Saliba said, as per the club .

“I scored a lot of goals in that team – a lot! Most of the time I played, I scored. If I ever went a game without ♔scoring, then I would always score in the next one.

“I think I was a good player, but I was n♛ever the captain or anything like that. It was because I was too young in ಞmy head, do you know what I mean?

“I wasn’t very interes𒉰ted in being captain anyway. I was happy to be the main striker!”

Saliba continued: “I always wanted to win. That’s all ꧋I wanted when I was a young player. I wanted to win every game and that’s what really motivated me at that age.

“I wanted to score in every game, but I wouldn’t say 🍃I was a selfish player. Sꦰome strikers are selfish, but I also looked for my teammates too.”

The Arsenal attacking legend’s name William Saliba had on the back of his shirt

Saliba also revealed in a Colney Carpool episode that he had Thierry Henry’s name on the back of his shirt𝔍 and admitted 🎶it wasn’t his choice to switch positions.

As the years went on, Saliba was switched to centre-ba💧ck and became the world-class defender he is today.

This🅰 is common as players develop through the academy ranks and, norma༒lly, they wouldn’t get a chance to feature in their old positions.

However, this is not a normal situation at Arsenal and, with Arteta looking at🐭 which defender could cover up front, Saliba certainly seems like the best 🌞shout.