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By LEWIS BROWNING Published: 20: 00 AEDT, 14 February 2025 | Updated: 00: 14 AEDT, 15 February 2025 30 View comments Paul Merson has slammed Kai Havertz's 'unacceptable' hamstring injury after the Arsenal forward was ruled out for the rest of the season. The Gunners have confirmed that Havertz will have surgery in the coming days before undergoing a recovery and rehabilitation programme that will extend into pre-season. 'Everyone at the club is fully focused on supporting Kai to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible, ' the club wrote in a statement on its website. The injury was sustained during a warm-weather training camp in Dubai as the Gunners enjoyed a week off due to being out of the FA Cup, though the trip as come at a cost, leaving them even lighter in attack. Bukayo Saka could miss up to eight more weeks with his own hamstring issue, while Gabriel Martinelli is also sidelined and Gabriel Jesus is out for the season with a knee injury. Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, criticised the German, though did admit that his absence would be noticed at the Emirates. Paul Merson has slammed Kai Havertz following the forward's 'unacceptable' hamstring injury The German picked up the injury while away on a warm weather training camp out in Dubai Merson said that Havertz would not have suffered the injury if he 'stretched properly' 'I think majorly (he will be a miss), ' Merson began. 'If he doesn't play up front, he plays behind, he has a great understanding with (Martin) Odegaard and he can drop off or play centre forward. 'He gets a bit of stick but I'm a big fan of Havertz. He may miss chances but he gets in positions. This is a massive miss. 'To pull your hamstring, it's unacceptable. What you've got to do is just stretch and if you stretch properly, it's very rare you will pull a hamstring.  When I heard the news come through that he'd be out after pulling his hamstring on a warm weather training camp. .. I can't believe what's happened, I really can't. ' Arsenal trail Liverpool by seven points in the Premier League title race, with both teams now having played the same amount of games on the back of the Merseyside derby. The Reds did have a game in hand for a couple of months due to the match being postponed because of Storm Darragh, but that game took place this week and their lead was extended by a point. With 14 games left each, there is still plenty to play for but Arsenal, who were already struggling to score goals on a consistent basis, are depleted in attack. They have an easier run-in than Liverpool, but need to find a solution to their lack of options in forward areas, despite Saka and Martinelli being able to return in due course. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta must now work out a solution to his limited options in attacking areas Merson has urged Ethan Nwaneri (pictured), as well as Raheem Sterling, to step up for Gunners Merson meanwhile, called for those who are fit to step up. The likes of Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri are now set to enjoy more regular game time, and will need to deliver if Arsenal are to win their first league title since 2004.   'Time will tell, ' Merson continued. 'If they lost the league by one or two or three points. .. if Liverpool won the other day, I don't care who's playing up front for Arsenal, nine points is a long way. 'Now it's seven [points]. They make a difference, those two points. It's going to be Trossard, Nwaneri and Sterling, the front three, in my opinion. That's the way it looks. You're going to sit down with Sterling and say. "You've got six or seven games, go out, enjoy it, show us what you've got. Go and play". 'He's been a bit-part player and it's hard. You come on or you start and think if you aren't doing well you will be off. People think like that and it's hard not to. Now he has to play and hopefully we see the best of him. 'Those three might gel. The sky is the limit for Nwaneri, he will be in the team on a consistent basis - we never know if they will be a superstar until they get a run in the team and he has a real chance now. ' Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group