Kai Havertz has been summoned back to Arsenal for a medical evaluation after picking up a knock during Germany's Nations League match against the Netherlands. The German side were locked in a 1-1 stalemate in Amsterdam on Thursday when Havertz was forced off the pitch after a challenge from Quinten Timber in the first half.
He was replaced by Younes Ebnoutalib. Initial reports suggest the problem is a relatively minor muscle strain, but the forward has left the German camp early to receive treatment at Arsenal's facilities, meaning he will miss the remainder of the international window. Germany manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed that both Havertz and Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala, who also suffered a suspected thigh issue, are undergoing MRI scans. "We expect a diagnosis by Thursday evening.
It's not ideal, but I hope it's nothing serious. The lads are probably out for us, but we hope they'll be back quickly," Klopp said. Havertz has featured prominently for Arsenal this season, starting six of the eight matches the club have played across all competitions and contributing three goals.
While the injury does not appear to be severe, it adds to a growing list of setbacks that have plagued the 27‑year‑old since joining the Gunners. Last season, he managed only seven Premier League starts because of recurring knee and muscle problems, and a hamstring tear forced him out for the final three months of the 2024/25 campaign. Arsenal will now have to cope without their versatile attacker as they prepare for their next Premier League fixture at home to Leeds United on Saturday, October 10. If Havertz is sidelined for an extended period, Viktor Gyökeres could become the club's primary striker, although Mikel Merino has also been deployed in a central attacking role.
Klopp has already named replacements for the German squad, with Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Burkardt set to take the places of Havertz and Musiala for the upcoming game. Sky Sports' Nick Wright offered an optimistic take on the situation, noting that the early timing of the injury within the international break provides Arsenal with more than two weeks to recover before the Leeds match. "If Havertz avoids a serious injury, Arsenal will be relieved.
The early window gives them a decent recovery period," Wright said. However, he cautioned that the injury comes at an inopportune moment, following Arsenal's unsuccessful attempts to secure an additional forward during the summer transfer window. Havertz's injury history, highlighted by a lengthy hamstring lay‑off in 2025, remains a cause for concern. Gyökeres, who stepped in for Havertz last season and netted 21 goals in all competitions, has struggled to find form at the start of the new campaign.
He has only logged 29 Premier League minutes and managed a single shot across two starts against Napoli and Ipswich. His peripheral status early in the season reflects Arsenal's well‑documented pursuit of high‑profile attackers such as Julian Álvarez and Vinícius Júnior. Gyökeres will need to seize any opportunity to prove his worth to Mikel Arteta.
Jay Bothroyd, also on Sky Sports News, compared Gyökeres's playing style with Havertz's. "Gyökeres prefers to make runs behind the defence, operate on the shoulder and exploit the channels between centre‑backs and full‑backs. Havertz, on the other hand, provides a platform with his ball‑holding ability and link‑up play," Bothroyd explained. He suggested that Arteta might also look to Merino, who shares many of Havertz's technical attributes, such as strong ball retention, vision, and passing range.
Bothroyd added that Merino has already shown a knack for scoring crucial goals, and while Gyökeres is likely to start, any failure to meet expectations could see Merino pushed into the starting XI. In summary, Havertz's return to Arsenal for assessment marks another chapter in a season marked by injury challenges for the German forward. While the injury appears minor, its timing disrupts Arsenal's attacking options just as the club seeks to solidify its forward line after a summer of transfer speculation. The next few weeks will be crucial for Havertz's recovery, for Gyökeres's chance to cement a starting role, and for Arteta's tactical adjustments as the Gunners aim to maintain momentum heading into the Leeds United clash.