Arsenal have suffered a blow ahead of the international break as key forward Kai Havertz has been withdrawn from the Germany squad due to knee problems.
The German Football Federation confirmed the news via a statement on Twitter, saying, “Kai Havertz will miss the upcoming international matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands due to knee problems. National coach Julian Nagelsmann nominated Jonathan Burkardt in Havertz’s place.”
The withdrawal means Havertz will miss Germany’s fixtures during this international window against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday and the Netherlands next Monday.
Havertz’s injury comes as an unfortunate setback for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, especially after a busy and successful period of fixtures. The 25-year-old forward has been in fine form, scoring six goals in his last 10 games, including a crucial equaliser in Arsenal’s 3-1 comeback win over Southampton.
The timing of the injury is frustrating for Arsenal, who have just navigated an intense run of fixtures. Arteta’s side played seven games in 21 days, including victories over their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain, before heading into the international break just one point behind league leaders Liverpool.
Reflecting on the gruelling schedule, Arteta praised his squad for their adaptability and resilience. “It’s been a really tough period since the last international break in terms of fixtures, the amount of injuries we had and teams we had to play,” he said following the Southampton match. “But the team shows an incredible capacity to adapt to various contexts. They are really willing, they really want this and I’m really happy where we are.”
Havertz has become a key player for Arsenal this season, operating as their first-choice No.9. In the past six months, the German international has cemented his place in the squad with an impressive return of 15 goals and six assists in his last 24 matches.
Despite this, Havertz’s absence could prove to be a significant challenge for Arsenal, especially with another demanding block of fixtures looming after the international break.
The Gunners will face seven games in the space of three weeks, including Premier League clashes against Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Burnley, and Brentford, a Carabao Cup tie against Preston, and Champions League encounters with Shakhtar Donetsk and Inter Milan.
However, with Arsenal not set to return to action until Saturday, October 19, the club’s medical team will hope to have Havertz fit and ready to feature as he undergoes assessment over the coming days.
For now, Arsenal fans will be hoping the injury to their top scorer is not too serious, with Havertz’s presence likely to be crucial in the upcoming fixtures.
