Havertz

KAI HAVERTZ has undergone knee surgery – leaving Arsenal with just ONE fit recognised striker.

The 26-year-old has been out since picking up an injury in training – days after a 30-minute cameo off the bench in a 1-0 opening-day win over Manchester United on August 17.

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SunSport understands that Havertz has shared his time between London Colney and his native Germany, being assessed by doctors to determine the severity of the issue.

And the Gunners have since decided to take precautionary measures with Havertz going under the knife for the second time in six months.

A club statement read: “Further to sustaining a knee injury after our recent game against Manchester United on 17 August, subsequent assessments and specialist reviews with Kai confirmed that surgery would be required.

“Today, Kai underwent a successful minor surgical procedure.

“He will shortly begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with everyone fully focused on supporting Kai to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible.”

It means Havertz will miss crunch Prem clashes against Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle, as well as the start to Arsenal’s Champions League campaign next month.

Havertz had a hamstring operation back in February that saw him only return for the final two games of last term, but this minor procedure is not expected to keep him out for a similar period.

It now leaves boss Mikel Arteta relying on summer signing Viktor Gyokeres to lead the line without any back-up for at least the next few weeks.

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Gabriel Jesus – Arsenal’s third-choice No.9 – is also still on the recovery table, expected to return towards the end of 2025 after an ACL reconstruction in January.

However, Arsenal are confident that they have the squad to deal with the absence, hijacking Tottenham’s £68m deal for Eberechi Eze last week 24 hours after Havertz’s injury news.

Arteta does have options – playing midfielder Mikel Merino and winger Leandro Trossard down the middle for large parts of last season.

The Gunners are also set to be without Bukayo Saka for a number of weeks following the injury he sustained during their 5-0 thrashing of Leeds on Saturday.

While there remains uncertainty around whether Martin Odegaard will be fit to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

The Gunners captain was forced off with a shoulder injury in the 38th minute and replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.

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Arsenal forward Kai Havertz will have surgery on a knee injury, but is not expected to be out for a significant amount of time.

The 26-year-old featured in the opening win over Manchester United from the substitutes’ bench, but missed the 5-0 victory over Leeds with the problem.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said before the Leeds match that “we need more time” before determining what course of action Havertz’s injury required.

The hope is that the Germany international will be out for weeks rather than months.

That will give Arteta some relief as he is already without winger Bukayo Saka, midfielders Martin Odegaard and Christian Norgaard, defender Ben White and forward Gabriel Jesus through injury.

Sweden international Viktor Gyokeres is the club’s only fit striker and scored his first two Premier League goals against Leeds.

Havertz’s injury accelerated Arsenal’s move for England attacker Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace and the £60m signing has started training with the Gunners.

Arsenal face champions Liverpool on Sunday at Anfield with both sides having won their opening two league matches of the season.

Arsenal’s title hopes are hit by another injury to one of their forwards as Kai Havertz is ruled out for the rest of the season.

Arsenal have confirmed that forward Kai Havertz will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a hamstring injury – dealing a seismic blow to their Premier League title challenge.

The 25-year-old Germany forward was injured during the club’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

Arsenal issued a statement on Thursday confirming the extent of the injury.

“We can confirm that Kai Havertz has sustained a hamstring injury during a training session in Dubai last week,” the club said.

“Subsequent assessments and specialist reviews have confirmed that the injury will require surgery, which will take place in the coming days.

“Soon after surgery, Kai will begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, which is expected to extend into pre-season preparations for next season.”

Arsenal, Premier League runners-up over the past two seasons, are seven points behind leaders Liverpool with 14 games to go.

Manager Mikel Arteta faces a huge headache after the Gunners did not bolster their attacking options during the recent transfer window.

Arsenal failed in their bid to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa last month.

Havertz had been due to lead Arsenal’s line for the remainder of the campaign, having scored 15 times in 32 appearances this season. He was the club’s leading scorer in the Premier League with nine goals, as the Gunners’s forward line has largely failed to fire.

His last goal came in the 5-1 win at defending Premier League champions Manchester City on February 2.

Gabriel Jesus is out for the season after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury last month.

Bukayo Saka has been absent since December, but it is hoped the England international, who travelled with his teammates to the Middle East, could return next month.

Gabriel Martinelli also faces a spell on the sidelines after he was forced off in Arsenal’s League Cup second-leg semifinal defeat at Newcastle last week.

It leaves the Gunners with only Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri as recognised forward players. The Gunners are next in action when they travel to Leicester City in the league on Saturday.

ARSENAL have released a statement with an update on the injury of Kai Havertz.

The German forward has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring tear.

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Havertz, 25, picked up the injury during the club’s training camp in Dubai and will need to undergo surgery.

The club confirmed in a statement that this was the case.

It was also revealed that the former Chelsea star will have a recovery programme that will run into the pre-season training for the 2025/26 campaign.

It read: “We can confirm that Kai Havertz has sustained a hamstring injury during a training session in Dubai last week.

“Subsequent assessments and specialist reviews have confirmed that the injury will require surgery, which will take place in the coming days.

“Soon after surgery, Kai will begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, which is expected to extend into pre-season preparations for next season.

“Everyone at the club is fully focused on supporting Kai to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible.”

More to follow…

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ARSENAL fans fumed as Kai Havertz was denied taking a penalty – before Leandro Trossard’s miss.

The Gunners were leading Shakhtar Donetsk after Gabriel Martinelli’s strike on the half hour mark forced an own goal from keeper Dmytro Riznyk.

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But Arsenal had the chance to wrap the game up with 15 minutes to go after Valeriy Bondar handled in the box.

Following a VAR check, referee Benoit Bastien pointed to the spot.

Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s chief penalty taker but the England winger was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Havertz has taken a penalty for the Gunners before and has missed only once from 12 yards in his career.

But still it was Trossard who was given responsibility – for the first time in an Arsenal shirt.

And his effort was saved by the legs of Riznyk to make up for his earlier mistake.

It left Gooners fuming as one said: “Havertz has scored 20 of the 21 penalties he’s taken in his career. Why was Trossard taking it?”

Another added: “You get a penalty and give it to Trossard yet your best penalty taker (Havertz) is on pitch.

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“We can really take risks and that’s not acceptable.”

One raged: “Havertz is way too nice too. Should have snatched the ball straight away from Trossard.”

Another fumed: “Why didn’t Havertz take the pen? Of the 11 on the field, he is the logical penalty taker for Arsenal. Horrible penalty from Trossard.”

Fortunately for Trossard, Arsenal held onto their 1-0 lead to win the game but Arteta said it was not his decision for the Belgian to take the penalty.

He said: “I dunno the conversation as he [Havertz] is one of the takers, Leo decided to take it, okay he missed it unfortunately.”