Kai Havertz out for weeks with muscle injury; set to miss Brentford, Wigan and Tottenham
Arsenal have been dealt another setback after Kai Havertz sustained a muscular injury that will sideline him for the coming weeks.
The Germany international is now expected to miss the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on February 22 in what is a significant blow to Mikel Arteta’s plans.
Havertz had only recently returned to action after a lengthy spell out and had featured in Arsenal’s last four matches, contributing two goals and two assists across all competitions.
His renewed absence comes at a crucial juncture, with Arsenal set to face Brentford, Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup and Wolverhampton Wanderers before the showdown with Tottenham.
While the current issue is not believed to be as serious as previous injuries, it adds to a frustrating run of physical problems that have disrupted his rhythm over the past year.
Havertz tore his right hamstring during a training camp in Dubai in February 2025 and required surgery, returning towards the end of the 2024-25 campaign before suffering a separate knee issue in August that ruled him out for five months.
This latest muscular concern is understood to be less severe, though Arsenal will take no risks given his recent history.
The 26-year-old has often been deployed in midfield in recent weeks, making his absence particularly challenging with Mikel Merino already facing a prolonged spell out following foot surgery.
Arteta recently confirmed that Merino is expected to be sidelined for several months, leaving Arsenal light in central areas at a demanding stage of the season.
Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Max Dowman have also been managing fitness concerns, further stretching squad depth.
Arteta described Havertz as a player capable of elevating the team’s level and stressed the importance of reintegrating him carefully to maximise his impact in the second half of the campaign.
The German international underlined that value with a decisive late winner against former club Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final earlier this month.
The timing of this setback is therefore particularly frustrating, as Havertz had begun to rebuild momentum and influence following an extended period of rehabilitation.
The priority for Arsenal will be managing his recovery prudently while navigating a congested schedule that could shape their domestic and European ambitions.
With key fixtures approaching and squad options limited, Arteta must once again reshuffle his resources as Arsenal look to maintain consistency without one of their most versatile attacking outlets.
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