Kai Havertz's nightmare continues as the forward picks up another injury

Havertz picked up a knee injury in the opening Premier League match against Man United. Since then, he has been sidelined for four months, with no clear sign of an imminent return. To make matters worse, the German international has now sustained another injury during his recovery.

According to Football.London, Havertz picked up a fresh injury while recovering from his knee problem and is expected to miss a few more weeks. If his recovery goes smoothly, he could return for the league match against Liverpool on 8 January. Otherwise, his comeback may be delayed until the FA Cup third-round tie against Portsmouth three days later.

Earlier this month, manager Mikel Arteta said Havertz’s return was a “matter of weeks”. However, the situation could now be more complicated, especially as Arsenal have been performing well without him. This season, Arteta has often started Viktor Gyokeres up front, while Mikel Merino has also been used in a more advanced role, similar to last season.

Arsenal have also welcomed back Gabriel Jesus from injury, and his performances have been encouraging. As a result, if Havertz’s absence is prolonged, he may struggle to reclaim his starting role compared to last season. His contract with Arsenal runs until 2028, but there is a possibility the club could consider selling him next summer, potentially after the 2026 World Cup.

Havertz’s recent career has been disrupted by injuries. Earlier this year, he suffered a hamstring injury in February and was sidelined for three months. Before that, he also picked up two other injuries during the 2024/25 season but still managed 36 appearances, scoring 15 goals and providing five assists.

At present, Arsenal are still sitting top of the table, two points ahead of Man City. However, with ongoing injury issues, especially in defence, nothing is guaranteed for Arteta and his players in their pursuit of silverware.