When will Kai Havertz return for Arsenal? | OneFootball

Arsenal’s attacking depth has taken another hit as Mikel Arteta confirms the long-term injury to Kai Havertz.

So when will he be back?

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Kai Havertz will not feature again this season, with Arsenal confirming that the hamstring injury he sustained in Dubai will require surgery, effectively ruling him out until the 2025/26 campaign.

The German international suffered the setback while attempting to block a shot during a training session in Dubai, and further assessments determined that surgical intervention was necessary.

Hamstring injuries severe enough to require surgery typically demand a lengthy rehabilitation process, often spanning four to six months depending on the complexity of the tear and the success of post-surgical recovery.

In Havertz’s case, Arsenal’s medical team expects his rehabilitation to extend into pre-season preparations, making it highly unlikely that he will be match-fit before August.

Photo via @DailyAFC on Twitter

Speaking about the setback, Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration at yet another injury to a key player. “We were having a great camp in Dubai recharging, training, having some time off and connecting again with nature in a different environment, and then the injury happened in a very unexpected way,” he said.

“Certainly it is a big blow because of the injuries that we have, but fortunately, we’ve been through a lot this season. We have played without Gabriel, without Saliba, Ben White all season, Tomiyasu all season, Calafiori for two months, Merino for two months, Martin Ødegaard for two months, Bukayo Saka for three months, Gabriel Jesus… all of them. So that’s it, that’s the challenge ahead. I love it and look forward because we are still where we are with all the things I mentioned on top of playing four times with 10 men, blah blah blah. Let’s see what the team is made of.”

With Gabriel Jesus also sidelined for the season, Arsenal’s attacking depth has taken a significant hit.

Leandro Trossard is the most natural replacement through the middle, but options beyond him are limited. Ethan Nwaneri could feature centrally, but with Saka still unavailable, he may be needed on the right.

Raheem Sterling, another potential solution, is likely to be required on the left because of Martinelli’s injury.

Beyond that, Arsenal may have to turn to academy graduates, with Nathan Butler-Oyedeji the most likely candidate.

Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter

The 21-year-old made his first-team debut in January’s Champions League fixture against Dinamo Zagreb and has been named on the bench for four of the last five Premier League matches. His record at youth level – 14 goal contributions in 13 games this season – suggests he could offer a credible short-term option.

For now, Arsenal’s attacking rotation is stretched thin. With 14 league fixtures remaining, along with at least two more matches in the Champions League, Arteta will need to carefully manage his squad to maintain momentum.

Addressing Arsenal’s ongoing injury crisis, Arteta acknowledged the complexity of the issue. “You cannot prove it, so the evidence we can provide is very limited in many aspects and every case is very different,” he said. “Obviously some of them we know are based on load and minutes, that’s inevitable. We have players who have been injured and who have played 130 games in the last two seasons, so in the end, it’s an accident waiting to happen if you continue to load and load.”

Despite the setbacks, Arsenal remain in the thick of the title race and Champions League knockout rounds. But with Havertz, Jesus, Martinelli, and Saka all unavailable, the test of their squad depth has only just begun.