Arsenal fans hoping to see Kai Havertz back on the pitch soon will have to be patient.
The German forward, recovering from minor knee surgery, has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation and is now expected to be sidelined until early to mid-January.
Injury Timeline and Setback
Havertz first picked up a knee injury during Arsenal’s opening Premier League clash against Manchester United on August 17.
Surgery followed a week later, and the forward has been on the sidelines ever since.
In November, he was reportedly just a week away from returning to the matchday squad but suffered a minor issue in his final training sessions, delaying his comeback further.
Looking Toward a Return
As of now, Havertz has yet to resume training.
Sources suggest he is targeting a return to matchday readiness by mid-January.
While there’s a slim chance he could feature for Arsenal against Liverpool on January 8, it seems more likely that he will be available for the FA Cup third-round match against Portsmouth three days later.
Injury Woes Have Plagued Havertz
This isn’t the first time injuries have hampered Havertz’s season.
Earlier this year, he suffered a torn hamstring during Arsenal’s warm-weather training camp in February, keeping him out for a significant period.
Arsenal’s Broader Injury Crisis
The German international is not alone in facing time out.
Arsenal have struggled with injuries across the squad, though November and December saw the return of key players including Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus, and William Saliba.
At present, however, Havertz joins Gabriel Magalhaes, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, and Max Dowman on the sidelines.
What This Means for the Gunners
Havertz’s absence adds to the challenge for Arsenal as they navigate the busy winter fixture schedule.
Manager Mikel Arteta will have to carefully manage his squad while hoping that his forward returns to full fitness in time to make an impact in the new year.
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