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 in the first half of Thursday's 1-1 draw in Amsterdam after a challenge from Dutch defender Quinten Timber, and he was replaced by Younes Ebnoutalib. Initial reports suggest the problem is a minor muscle strain, but the decision has been made for Havertz to leave the German camp and receive treatment under Arsenal's medical staff, meaning he will miss the remaining fixtures in 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 magnetic resonance imaging scans.
"We hope 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 trust they'll be back relatively quickly." The 27‑year‑old Havertz has started six of Arsenal's eight matches across all competitions this season, contributing three goals.
While the current injury appears to be low‑grade, it adds to a growing list of setbacks that have plagued his time at the club. 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 primary attacking option as they prepare for their next Premier League fixture at home to Leeds United on Saturday, October 10. If Havertz is unavailable for an extended period, Viktor Gyökeres could become the team's sole out‑and‑out striker, although midfielder Mikel Merino has also been deployed in a more advanced role in recent games.
Klopp has already named replacements for the injured duo in Germany's upcoming match, with Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Burkardt stepping into the squad. Sky Sports analyst Nick Wright expressed optimism that Havertz has avoided a serious injury, noting that the timing of the setback—early in the international break—provides more than two weeks for recovery before Arsenal's next league game. Nevertheless, the injury is an unwelcome blow after Arsenal's summer transfer window failed to deliver an additional front‑line option. Havertz's injury history is a cause for concern.
In addition to the recent muscle strain, he endured a lengthy lay‑off after a hamstring tear in 2025, which sidelined him for several months. That period saw Gyökeres step in and score 21 goals across all competitions, but the Swedish striker has struggled to replicate that form this season, accumulating only 29 Premier League minutes and registering a single shot in two starts against Napoli and Ipswich. The situation highlights Arsenal's ongoing search for a reliable goal scorer. The club has been linked with high‑profile targets such as Julian Álvarez and Vinícius Júnior, but those moves have yet to materialise.
In the meantime, Gyökeres must seize any opportunity to prove his worth to manager Mikel Arteta, while Arteta may also consider giving Merino a more permanent attacking role. Former professional Jay Bothroyd, speaking on Sky Sports News, compared Gyökeres' style to Havertz's.
He noted that Gyökeres prefers to make runs behind the defence, operate on the shoulder, and exploit the channels between centre‑backs and full‑backs. "Arsenal will need to adjust their approach, looking for quick transitions and early passes to exploit his speed and strength," Bothroyd said. "However, Gyökeres must improve his hold‑up play, an area where Havertz excels.
Havertz provides a platform for link‑up play among the front three, and Gyökeres will need to replicate that to be effective." Bothroyd added that Merino possesses many of the technical attributes associated with Havertz: good ball retention, vision, and passing ability. "If Gyökeres doesn't deliver the expected output early on, Arteta may look to Merino as a more suitable alternative," he explained. "Merino has already shown he can score important goals and could fill the creative and scoring void left by Havertz's absence." In summary, Arsenal face a short‑term dilemma with Havertz's injury, but the club has several potential solutions. Gyökeres offers pace and physicality, while Merino provides technical finesse and playmaking ability.
The coming weeks will reveal which option Arteta trusts to lead the line as the Gunners aim to maintain momentum in the Premier League.