Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is set for another spell on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury that kept him out of the club’s open training session at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. The 26-year-old, who only recently returned from a lengthy hamstring setback, is undergoing further assessments, with the exact prognosis and recovery timeline still unclear.
The setback could not have come at a worse time for Mikel Arteta’s side, with a packed fixture list ahead and the Gunners preparing for a daunting trip to face Premier League champions Liverpool next week. Havertz, who has made 88 appearances and scored 29 goals for Arsenal since joining from Chelsea in 2023, has become an integral part of Arteta’s system. His absence will once again test the depth and resilience of Arsenal’s attacking unit.
This is the German international’s second major injury in 2025, following the hamstring tear he suffered during a training camp in Dubai in February, which sidelined him for 18 matches across domestic and European competitions. Arsenal will now anxiously wait to discover if this latest blow will rule him out for an extended period.
Gyokeres Thrown Into Spotlight
The injury immediately places huge responsibility on new signing Viktor Gyokeres, who now stands as Arsenal’s only fully fit recognised striker. The Sweden international, who made his Premier League debut in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United, is expected to lead the line against Leeds United this weekend and likely at Anfield next week.
Gyokeres’ adaptation to the Premier League is now of paramount importance for the Gunners. While Leandro Trossard—who recently committed his future to Arsenal with a new contract—has played up front on occasion, and Mikel Merino has been tried as a makeshift No. 9 in emergencies, neither provides the natural presence or physicality of a centre-forward.
Arteta had hoped to ease Gyokeres into life in north London, using Havertz’s versatility to share the attacking burden. Instead, the 26-year-old Swede is already being fast-tracked into a starring role at a critical stage of the season.
Transfer Market Dilemma for Arteta After Havertz’s Injury
Havertz’s knee injury could also alter Arsenal’s approach to the closing weeks of the transfer window. If the medical team confirms that the German requires surgery or faces months on the sidelines, Arteta may be forced to re-enter the market in search of another forward option.
The club’s recruitment drive this summer, which included the high-profile capture of Gyokeres, was partly motivated by last season’s injury crisis. Gabriel Jesus, Havertz, and Bukayo Saka all missed long stretches of the campaign, undermining Arsenal’s title challenge. While Jesus continues his rehabilitation from an ACL injury suffered in January, Arsenal’s margin for error in attack looks dangerously thin once again.
Sources around the club suggest contingency planning is already underway, with Arsenal actively monitoring options to reinforce their frontline. The success or failure of those plans could prove decisive in determining how competitive Arteta’s men remain at the very top of English football this season.
Arsenal’s Injury Curse Resurfaces
The Havertz setback has reignited concerns over Arsenal’s persistent injury troubles. Last season, Arteta’s squad saw several key players miss prolonged spells, and those absences were widely considered one of the decisive factors in the Gunners falling short in the Premier League and Champions League.
Pundits have already drawn parallels between this season’s early developments and last term’s woes. Jamie Carragher, speaking earlier this week, had tipped Havertz to lead the line in “big games” such as the upcoming clash with Liverpool. Instead, Arteta will once again be forced into reshuffling his plans just as momentum was building.
For the Arsenal faithful, the constant spectre of injuries is an all-too-familiar storyline. The open training session, intended to showcase fitness and spirit ahead of a new campaign, was instead overshadowed by the absence of one of their most important attacking players.
Leeds Test and Liverpool Showdown Loom
Arsenal must quickly adapt, with no time to dwell on Havertz’s misfortune. They host Leeds United at the Emirates on Saturday in what should, on paper, be a winnable contest. But the true test comes a week later at Anfield, where Arsenal face defending champions Liverpool in one of the season’s first marquee fixtures.
Without Havertz, and with Jesus still sidelined, all eyes will be on Gyokeres to deliver in the kind of high-pressure environment Arsenal signed him for. The Swede’s ability to provide goals, link-up play, and presence in the box could be the difference between Arsenal competing toe-to-toe with Liverpool—or once again being undone by misfortune in the treatment room.
Ultimately, the next fortnight will reveal not only the extent of Havertz’s injury but also the depth of Arsenal’s resolve. Arteta has repeatedly spoken about building a squad capable of withstanding adversity. With Havertz out, Gyokeres under pressure, and the transfer market clock ticking, Arsenal’s resilience is already being put to the test.
