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 Quinten Timber, with Younes Ebnoutalib coming on as his replacement. Sources indicate the problem is a minor muscle strain, but the decision has been made for Havertz to leave the German camp and receive treatment at Arsenal's facilities, meaning he will miss the remainder of the international window.
Germany manager Jürgen Klopp confirmed that both Havertz and Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala, who also suffered a suspected thigh issue, are undergoing MRI 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 we hope they'll be back relatively quickly." The injury comes at a delicate time for Arsenal. Havertz has started six of the club's eight matches across all competitions this season, contributing three goals, but his fitness has been a recurring concern.
Last season he managed only seven Premier League starts because of knee and muscle problems, and he missed the final three months of the 2024/25 campaign after tearing a hamstring. Arsenal's attacking options are now stretched thin.
If Havertz remains sidelined, Viktor Gyökeres will be the only natural striker available, although Mikel Merino has also been deployed in a forward role. Arsenal are scheduled to host Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday, October 10, giving the club just over two weeks to assess Havertz's recovery before the next league fixture. In Germany's squad, Havertz and Musiala will be replaced by Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Burkardt for the upcoming match. Sky Sports analyst Nick Wright expressed optimism that Havertz has avoided a serious setback.
"The injury happened early in the international window, which gives him more than two weeks to recover before Arsenal's next game," Wright noted. "Nevertheless, the timing is uncomfortable after Arsenal's failed attempts to secure another striker during the summer. Havertz's injury history, including the long lay‑off with a hamstring problem in 2025, remains a worry." Gyökeres, who stepped in for Havertz last season and netted 21 goals in all competitions, has struggled to find form this campaign, logging only 29 Premier League minutes and registering a single shot across two starts against Napoli and Ipswich. His reduced role follows Arsenal's well‑documented pursuit of high‑profile forwards such as Julián Álvarez and Vinícius Júnior.
Gyökeres will need to seize any opportunity to demonstrate his value to Mikel Arteta's plans. Jay Bothroyd, also on Sky Sports News, compared Gyökeres' style to Havertz's. "Gyökeres prefers to run behind the defence, operate on the shoulder and exploit the channels between centre‑backs and full‑backs," Bothroyd explained.
"Arsenal may need to adjust their approach to create half‑turns for him, as he possesses speed and physical strength. However, he must improve his hold‑up play, a quality that Havertz provides as a linking platform for the front three." Bothroyd added that Mikel Merino could be a viable alternative. "Merino shares many of Havertz's attributes: technical ability, ball retention, vision, and good passing range. He's also contributed important goals in the box," he said.
"If Gyökeres doesn't deliver early, Arteta may look to Merino more frequently." The broader context highlights Arsenal's ongoing search for a reliable goal‑scoring outlet. The club's summer transfer window saw several high‑profile targets slip away, leaving the management to rely on a mix of existing squad members and emerging talents. Havertz's injury underscores the fragility of their attacking depth and the importance of squad rotation to mitigate fatigue and injury risk. Looking ahead, Arsenal will monitor Havertz's MRI results closely.
Should the scans confirm a minor strain, the medical team will likely implement a tailored rehabilitation program aimed at returning him to full training within the two‑week window before the Leeds match. In the meantime, Arteta may experiment with different formations, perhaps employing a dual‑striker system that pairs Gyökeres with Merino or another midfield runner to maintain offensive threat. The situation also raises questions about Germany's squad depth.
With both Havertz and Musiala sidelined, Klopp will lean on younger talents like Wirtz and Burkardt to fill the creative void. Their performances could influence future selection decisions, especially as the Nations League progresses toward its knockout stages. In summary, while Havertz's injury appears to be a low‑grade muscle strain, its timing is inconvenient for both Arsenal and Germany.
Arsenal hope for a swift recovery that allows the German forward to rejoin training ahead of the crucial Premier League fixture against Leeds, while also considering alternative attacking options to cover any prolonged absence. The next few weeks will be pivotal in determining how both clubs manage their squad resources amidst the challenges posed by injuries and a congested fixture schedule.