Mikel Arteta
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is facing an anxious wait over whether he will require surgery on a persistent knee injury that has kept him out since the Premier League’s opening weekend, according toThe Standard’s Simon Collings.
The 26-year-old German international sustained the problem during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester United on August 17 and has since been ruled out of Sunday’s clash with champions Liverpool at Anfield. His absence will also extend to Germany’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Northern Ireland.
Collings reports that Havertz has been battling discomfort since his cameo against United, where he featured for the final 31 minutes. He subsequently missed Arsenal’s 5-0 victory over Leeds United and was absent from an open training session at the Emirates on August 20, heightening fears about the severity of the issue.
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German national team director Rudi Voller confirmed the striker’s omission from international duty, saying: “He certainly won’t make it; he has a knee injury. We don’t know exactly how it will go in the coming weeks, whether surgery is upcoming or it will be treated conservatively.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta echoed the cautious approach, telling reporters last week that further medical tests were needed: “Unfortunately, he picked up an injury, and we don’t know the extent of it yet. We need more time and more tests to have clarity.”
Kai Havertz injury
Kai Havertz (Image credit: Getty Images
The club is weighing whether rest and non-surgical treatment, such as injections, could resolve the problem, or if Havertz will need surgery, a decision that could rule him out for months.
The uncertainty comes as a major blow for Arsenal, who were already thin in attack. Havertz missed a significant spell last season after tearing a hamstring during a winter training camp in Dubai, which sidelined him between February and May. In response to his latest setback, Arsenal moved quickly in the transfer market, sealing the £67.5 million signing of Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze last week to strengthen their options.
Currently, summer arrival Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal’s only fit recognised striker, with Gabriel Jesus still recovering from knee surgery in January. Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino may be deployed as makeshift forwards if required, though Eze’s versatility offers Arteta greater flexibility ahead of his potential debut at Anfield.
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Despite the concerns, Arteta praised Havertz’s resilience, highlighting the German’s attitude in the face of repeated setbacks.
“Mentally, he’s in a good place. He’s a really strong boy, very committed,” Arteta said. “He’s got the joy of a kid, and I’m sure he’s going to deal with this in the best possible way.”
Havertz has scored 29 goals in 88 appearances since arriving from Chelsea in 2023 and remains an integral part of Arteta’s system. With Champions League fixtures beginning on September 16 and the Gunners entering a decisive run of games, a lengthy absence would represent a serious blow to their title ambitions.
For now, Arsenal and Havertz await further medical assessments to determine whether conservative treatment can keep him on the pitch or whether surgery will be required, ruling him out of action once again.
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