Kai Havertz pulled up in the first half of Germany’s 1-1 Nations League draw with the Netherlands in Amsterdam last Thursday after a challenge from Quinten Timber, and had to be substituted. The forward is returning to Arsenal for treatment and will miss the remaining games of the international window.
Germany manager Jurgen Klopp set the tone on the night of the match, when Havertz and Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala were both sent for scans.
“Both are currently undergoing an MRI. I hope we get the diagnosis [on Thursday] evening. But of course, this isn’t great. I hope it’s nothing serious,” Klopp said.
The knock is understood to be a minor muscle strain. Reports from Germany suggest the 27-year-old could be out for up to four weeks, though that estimate has not been formally endorsed by the club. Havertz has started six of Arsenal’s eight matches across all competitions this season and has scored three goals. His recent injury record makes any muscle problem a nervous one: he missed the final three months of the 2024/25 season with a hamstring tear, and was limited to seven Premier League starts last term because of knee and muscle issues.
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Arteta has four weeks to get him fit
Arsenal pick the season back up at home to Leeds United on Saturday 10 October, with a trip to Nottingham Forest on 18 October and a home game against Everton on 24 October before the trip to Merseyside on Sunday 1 November. Kick-off times have not yet been confirmed.
That stretch maps almost exactly on to the window Havertz is projected to miss, which is why the Anfield date rather than the Leeds opener is the one driving the calculation at London Colney.
Liverpool and United also hit
Arsenal are far from alone in counting the cost. Liverpool, their next heavyweight opponent, lost two attacking options over the past 10 days: Alexander Isak picked up a knock on Sweden duty and Cody Gakpo lasted just 17 minutes against Serbia before coming off with an ankle problem.
Manchester United had a difficult window too. Bruno Fernandes was left out of the Portugal squad with an injury carried into the break, Patrick Dorgu was taken off after 30 minutes of Denmark’s game against Wales, and Noussair Mazraoui was substituted on 69 minutes against Lesotho with a back problem.
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Sunderland saw Brian Brobbey and Dan Ballard both limp off on international duty, Zion Suzuki of Aston Villa missed the Japan squad with a rib injury, Manchester City lost Nico O’Reilly for England’s trip to the Czech Republic, and Tottenham’s Jan Paul van Hecke withdrew from the Netherlands squad with a foot problem.
City’s guilty verdict adds extra edge
The injury pile-up lands at a sensitive moment at the top of the table. Manchester City’s position is under scrutiny after an independent commission found the club guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules. Sanctions, which range from fines to points deductions and possible expulsion, will be set in a separate hearing. City have confirmed they will appeal the ruling and have until Friday 2 October to do so.
Arsenal’s Premier League schedule resumes at the Emirates against Leeds on Saturday 10 October.
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