If a spate of injuries turned 2025 into something of an annus horribilis for Kai Havertz, he says the long spells on the sidelines have only sharpened his appetite to achieve big things with Arsenal.
The Germany international underwent two surgeries last year, first to repair a hamstring torn during Arsenal’s mid-season warm-weather training camp in Dubai, and later to address a knee problem just as the new campaign was getting underway. A minor setback in his recovery from the latter meant his first start of the season did not come until the end of January, and further muscular issues since have led to more time on the treatment table.
For a player once labelled a “genetic powerhouse” by Mikel Arteta, it has been a frustrating run, but it sounds like he’s back to full fitness.
Facing the media on Tuesday, Havertz said: “We all know it [the season so far] was not what I expected it to be. But I always think that things happen for a reason and now I’m back and I feel good. I’m happy to help the team again.
“Obviously, it was stop-and-start, but sometimes football is like this. I haven’t really faced a challenge like this before in my career, so I just tried to give everything to be back as soon as I could. Now I’m just happy to be back and be here and help the team.”
On learning to trust his body again, he continued: “Yes, in a way, I had two injuries, now three injuries behind each other. But, for me, it was just tough because I never felt that pain before in my life. And it just came like randomly.
“But I tried to go through these things and obviously I got my support from at home as well, my family, you know, that helped me a lot during that time. But obviously, you know, having two surgeries after another is not easy.
“I’m professional enough to know that also this is part of football sometimes. And I know that there are so many players out there that went through stages of their career also. And I think I’m still young, so I have a lot of years hopefully in front of me.
“Mentally it was tough, but I got the help from at home, from Arsenal, from the players. So everyone was lifting my spirits and that’s all I can do.
“I tried to help the players also off the pitch because I was at the training ground every day. I saw them competing in the games in the stadium. And for me, it was a joy to watch them.
“I’m confident. I’m feeling good. I’m feeling better. Obviously, things can always happen, but I’m feeling 100 percent ready to play games. I’m feeling fit and I can’t wait to help the team in the next couple of months.”
Manager Mikel Arteta, also facing the press this evening, was full of praise for the way his striker has dealt with the challenge of being out so long. He also feels the 26-year-old, after a solid run in training, is close to his best.
“It’s been three weeks that he had total consistency in terms of training, preparation and game time.
“We’re going to continue to load that because we know how Kai can impact this team.
“It’s been something new for him [being out]. When you look at his injury record, it’s just blank. You know he never had a muscle injury, and last year he had his hamstring injury that required surgery and then the knee injury, so it’s been a tough period, but as well a lot of great things happening in his private life as well. And when you talk about a 15 to 20-year career, you’re going to, unfortunately, most likely go through these moments.
“If there is a person who has the right combination of humbleness, patience and love for the game, and a competitive edge, that’s certainly Kai. He had difficult moments, but that’s why we are here, and all his teammates and family are there, and now he needs to really enjoy all the work that he’s put in to see the results at the end of the season.”
In Havertz’s absence, and with few other fit attacking options available, Mikel Arteta initially turned to Mikel Merino to fill the void before the club invested heavily in Viktor Gyokeres. Like Havertz, the Swede made a sluggish start to life at the Emirates, although he’s started to look like a more consistent goal threat in recent weeks.
“In general, sometimes I don’t think us as players, we understand the critics,” said Havertz.
“I knew it from before and I felt it myself when I came to England, and then when I came to Arsenal. You always need some time to adapt.
“But I felt even though people saw him very critically in the first couple of months, I never saw it because he’s a player who helps the team in so many different aspects.
“There’s only a few players that score 30, 35 goals a season. I think he’s done amazingly this season and he helped us a lot. And he’s a top guy and I’m sure he’s also going to score some more important goals in the next games.”
Like Piero Hincapie, who is on loan from Leverkusen and was part of their recent title-winning side, Havertz knows the Bundesliga side well. He spent a decade on the club’s books, rising through the ranks before sealing a move to Chelsea in 2020.
“I already saw a lot of familiar faces, and obviously a lot of memories are coming up,” added the German.
“Especially for me, playing for Arsenal, playing for this club, coming back to my childhood club is amazing, and I can’t wait for the game tomorrow.
On the quest for silverware, he said: “At the moment, we are at the stage where we basically look game by game. And for us, honestly, the most important game is tomorrow.
And I know myself how tough Leverkusen is to beat, especially here at home.
“They’re a very good team, a top manager. So all we think about is tomorrow to win that game and then go home and go for the next one on the weekend, Premier League again, and then face them on the second leg next week. That’s all we’re thinking about now.”