Arsenal dealt injury blow as Havertz ruled out for rest of the season

Arsenal has confirmed that striker Kai Havertz will miss the rest of the season after storing a hamstring injury during the Dubai training camp of the team.

The Gunners have said that Havertz will undergo surgery to repair the problem and are expected to continue his rehabilitation in the preseason for the 2025-26 campaign.

It leaves Mikel Arteta without a recognized striker for the rest of the campaign, which could be considerable in their Premier League title against Liverpool.

Gabriel Jesus was operated on a front cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, while Bukayo Saka also remains offside after he went under the knife for a hamstring problem in December.

Havertz is the leading scorer of Arsenal in the Premier League this season with nine goals, three more than second place Gabriel Martinelli, who can also be out for the Gunners.

Martinelli has arrested a hamstring injury in Arsenal's EFL Cup second leg defeat against Newcastle, and is said to have been eliminated for at least a month, but only on Arteta's misery.

A medical update about Kai Havertz.

– Arsenal (@ARSENAL) February 13, 2025

The injury of Havertz only exacerbated Arsenal's misery after he had not strengthened their attacking options during the January transfer window, something that arteta “disappointed”.

The Gunners had rejected an offer for Ollie Watkins, while the interest in Alexander Isak, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Evan Ferguson did not materialize.

“We can confirm that Kai Havertz sustained a hamstring injury last week during a training session in Dubai,” Arsenal said in a statement.

“Subsequent reviews and specialist assessments have confirmed that the injury requires surgery that will take place in the coming days.

“Kai will start his recovery and rehabilitation program shortly after the operation, which is expected to extend to pre-season preparations for next season.

“Everyone at the club is completely focused on supporting Kai to ensure that he is back in the full fit as quickly as possible.”

Arsenal returns to action in the Premier League this Saturday and traveled to the King Power Stadium to tackle the wrestling Leicester City, with Arteta now too short of options.

Arteta suggested that Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri could come to a more central role until the end of the season, which now seems even more likely.