Oh no, not again. Just when Arsenal fans thought they had seen the last of Kai Havertz’s injury setbacks, the forward has been sidelined once more—this time with a knee problem picked up in the Gunners’ opening-day victory over Manchester United.
The 27-year-old German came off the bench at Old Trafford, but his night ended in disappointment after sustaining the knock.
He has since missed open training sessions, sparking fears that Arsenal could be without their in-form attacker for a crucial stretch of the season.
Havertz only recently returned from a long hamstring layoff that required surgery, yet still managed to finish as Arsenal’s top scorer last season with 15 league goals.
His ability to adapt as a striker made him an essential part of Mikel Arteta’s plans, especially with Gabriel Jesus sidelined following ACL surgery.
Now, the injury leaves Arsenal with just one recognised centre-forward, Viktor Gyökeres, forcing Arteta to consider stop-gap options such as redeploying Leandro Trossard or Mikel Merino up front. With the transfer window still open, reports suggest the club may explore emergency signings to avoid being short-handed in attack (TalkSport, The Sun).
For supporters, the setback feels like déjà vu—another untimely blow for a player who had seemed ready to carry Arsenal’s attack into a new season.
The club is awaiting further medical assessments before confirming the severity and timeline of Havertz’s recovery (official Arsenal news).
Until then, the big question remains: can Arsenal cope without their surprise goalscorer from last season, or will this injury derail their early-season momentum?