Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has suffered a fresh setback in his recovery from a long-term knee injury.
Havertz originally damaged his knee in Arsenal’s opening Premier League match of the season against Manchester United on August 17, 2025. The injury required surgery and ruled him out for several months. A further aggravation in November delayed his comeback, forcing the club to reset his rehabilitation plan.
The Germany international returned to limited action earlier this month, but Arsenal have been careful not to rush him. Havertz played 21 minutes as a substitute in the FA Cup win over Portsmouth on January 11 and eight minutes against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on January 15. However, his knee has since reacted again, with reports indicating ligament irritation in the same knee.
As a result, Arsenal have restricted his training load and match minutes, with long-term fitness now the clear priority. Havertz was an unused substitute against Inter Milan on January 20, underlining the club’s cautious approach.
Mikel Arteta had previously stressed the need for patience during Havertz’s phased return. Earlier this month, the Arsenal manager said: “If everything goes well, I think he’s going to be in the squad again in the next few days. He trains well, he’s increased his load, he’s coping with that really well and he will be ready when we can have him.”
Arteta also highlighted the demands placed on players at the club, adding: “When a player has the chance to put our shirt on and compete for us, you know that the demands are excellence. Kai is aware of that.”
Arsenal have not issued a fresh statement following the latest flare-up, but Havertz is not expected to be fully available in the immediate future. His response to carefully managed minutes over the coming weeks will be key to determining when he can return to regular starting duty.
