Havertz injury setback compounds striker shortage at Arsenal
Arsenal have been dealt another injury setback after Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed that Kai Havertz has suffered a relapse in his recovery from a knee problem.
The forward has featured only once this season after undergoing surgery in August and had been edging towards a return before the latest interruption stalled his progress.
Nagelsmann provided the update after Germany’s 6-0 win over Slovakia, explaining that Havertz had experienced a minor issue during his rehabilitation but remains on course to return before the end of the year.
The national team manager stressed that the setback was not considered serious, although he acknowledged that the forward still needs time to regain rhythm at club level.
Havertz has endured a difficult year disrupted by injury, having previously undergone hamstring surgery in January before the knee problem emerged after Arsenal’s opening match of the Premier League campaign.
He had shown encouraging signs during pre-season but faded from the squad after the procedure that followed the victory at Manchester United, with Arsenal opting against setting a public return date.
His absence has been acutely felt during a period in which Arsenal have struggled for available forwards, particularly in the run of matches against Burnley and Sunderland before the November international break.
Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus have also been sidelined, leaving Mikel Arteta to rely on Mikel Merino as an emergency striker for the second time this year.
Nagelsmann also offered positive news on Jamal Musiala, who is recovering from a fractured fibula, but noted that both he and Havertz must build full fitness at their clubs ahead of international commitments in March.
For Arsenal, however, Havertz’s delay arrives during an increasingly stretched period in which several key players remain unavailable.
Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli were all absent before the break, while centre-back Gabriel is undergoing further assessment after suffering a right thigh injury while away with Brazil.
Early indications suggest the defender could miss between one and two months, adding to the pressure on a squad already coping with sustained absences.
Arsenal will hope Havertz’s setback proves brief, with the expectation that he will resume training and rejoin the squad before the end of the year as the club enters a demanding phase of the season.
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