Kai Havertz is set to return to Arsenal for a medical evaluation after picking up a knock during Germany's Nations League encounter with the Netherlands. The German forward was forced off the pitch in the first half of Thursday's 1-1 draw in Amsterdam after a challenge from Dutch defender Quinten Timber, and was replaced by Younes Ebnoutalib. Initial reports suggest the injury is a minor muscle strain, but the decision to send Havertz back to his club for treatment means he will miss the remainder of the international break.
Germany manager Julian Klopp confirmed that both Havertz and Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala, who also suffered a suspected thigh issue, are undergoing magnetic resonance scans. "We expect to have a diagnosis by Thursday evening," Klopp said. "It's not ideal, but I hope it's nothing serious.
The lads are probably out for us, but I am optimistic they will be back relatively quickly." Havertz has been a regular feature for Arsenal this season, starting six of the club's eight matches across all competitions and contributing three goals. Although the current problem appears to be low‑grade, it adds to a growing list of setbacks that have hampered his progress since joining the North London side.
The 27‑year‑old managed only seven Premier League starts last season because of recurring knee and muscle issues, and he missed the final three months of the 2024/25 campaign after suffering a hamstring tear. Arsenal now face a potential shortage in their attacking options. If Havertz is sidelined for an extended period, Viktor Gyökeres could become the club's primary striker, with Mikel Merino also available to fill the role.
Arsenal are scheduled to host Leeds United in their next Premier League fixture on Saturday, 10 October, giving Havertz roughly two weeks to recover before the match. In Germany's squad, Klopp will replace the injured pair with Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Burkardt for the upcoming game. Sky Sports analyst Nick Wright highlighted Arsenal's optimism that Havertz has escaped a serious injury and noted the timing of the setback is inconvenient, coming after a summer in which the club attempted to bolster its forward line.
"The early‑season injury gives Arteta a little breathing room, but it also underscores the risk of relying heavily on a player with a history of muscle problems," Wright said. Gyökeres, who stepped in for Havertz last season and scored 21 goals in all competitions, has struggled to find form at the start of the new campaign, logging only 29 Premier League minutes and registering a single shot in two starts against Napoli and Ipswich.
His reduced role reflects Arsenal's ongoing pursuit of high‑profile forwards such as Julian Álvarez and Vinícius Júnior, and he must seize any opportunity to prove his worth to Mikel Arteta. Former professional Jay Bothroyd, appearing on Sky Sports News, contrasted Gyökeres' playing style with that of Havertz. "Gyökeres prefers to make runs behind the defence, operating on the shoulder and exploiting the channels between centre‑backs and full‑backs. Havertz, on the other hand, provides a platform – he holds up the ball, links play and creates space for the front three," Bothroyd explained.
He added that while Gyökeres brings speed and physicality, he needs to improve his hold‑up play to match Havertz' contribution. Bothroyd also suggested that Arteta might look to Merino as an alternative if Gyökeres does not meet expectations quickly. "Merino shares many of Havertz' attributes – technical ability, vision, ball retention and intelligent passing.
He has already shown a knack for scoring important goals," Bothroyd noted. "If Gyökeres cannot replicate the link‑up work Havertz provides, Merino could be given a chance sooner rather than later." In summary, Havertz' injury, while currently assessed as minor, adds another chapter to his injury‑prone narrative and forces Arsenal to reconsider their attacking strategy ahead of a crucial home match against Leeds. The club will monitor his MRI results closely, hoping for a swift recovery that allows the German international to rejoin the squad before the busy autumn schedule intensifies.
Meanwhile, Gyökeres and Merino will be under pressure to deliver the goals and creative spark that Arsenal have been seeking since the summer transfer window opened.