More bad news for Arsenal. Kai Havertz has suffered a muscle injury and will be sidelined, confirmed to miss the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, scheduled for February 22. The 26-year-old German international had just returned to competition in January after a long struggle with injuries that kept him off the pitch for most of 2025. In his last four games, Havertz scored two goals and provided two assists, showing signs of regaining his best form. The absence of the forward will be felt not only in the derby but also in the matches leading up to it: against Brentford on Thursday, Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup on Sunday, and Wolverhampton next Wednesday. This new physical issue adds to a concerning recent history. In February 2025, Havertz suffered a hamstring tear in his right leg during a training camp in Dubai, which required surgery. He returned near the end of the 2024/25 season, but a new injury, this time to his knee, in August resulted in another five months on the sidelines. However, the current muscle injury does not appear to be as severe. Havertz's injury exacerbates the problems in Mikel Arteta's squad, which is already missing Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Max Dowman. The absence of the German is particularly felt in midfield, where he has been utilized, a sector already depleted by Merino, who underwent surgery for a foot issue and will face a lengthy recovery. Havertz's return this season came on January 11, in the FA Cup victory over Portsmouth, where he played over 20 minutes. His first start was in the Champions League against Kairat Almaty, a match in which he scored a goal and provided an assist, despite only playing the first half. Since then, the versatile player scored the winning goal against his former club, Chelsea, in the League Cup semi-final on February 3, and was a starter in the last two Premier League matches. In the most recent one against Sunderland, he was substituted in the 67th minute after assisting Viktor Gyokeres for the first goal.
Arsenal Kai Havertz remains central to this story.
Arsenal Kai Havertz remains central to this story.
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