Kai Havertz’s spell on the sidelines is coming to an end. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has revealed that he could return to the squad as early as Sunday.
It’s been a long, long time since Kai Havertz last played. His last appearance was on February 5 in the 2-0 League Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle United. Just a few days earlier, the striker had scored his ninth Premier League goal of the season in a 5-1 win over Manchester City.
After missing out on a place in the final, the Gunners went on a short training camp in Dubai, which proved disastrous for Havertz. He suffered a hamstring injury and even had to undergo surgery, as conservative treatment was not possible. The 25-year-old’s season was over.
Havertz “looks very fit”
However, there is a good chance that Havertz will be able to play again. Coach Mikel Arteta said he could return to the squad for Sunday’s league game against Newcastle United (5:30 p.m.). “We’ll decide that tomorrow. He has completed some parts of training over the past two days. He looks very fit, but it’s up to the doctors and how Kai feels,” said the Spaniard at Friday’s press conference.
Arteta has to be creative, especially in attack, as Gabriel Jesus (cruciate ligament rupture) is another experienced striker who has been out for a long time. Puzzle work is also on the agenda for Sunday, especially as Havertz would probably only come off the bench anyway. Declan Rice, Leonardo Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Jurrien Timber are currently still injured and will also be assessed on Saturday to see if they are fit to play. According to Arteta, the quartet at least took part in parts of the team training session.
Arsenal almost through
The match against Newcastle (66 points) could be crucial for Arsenal (68), as their place in the Champions League is not yet guaranteed despite being in second place (click here for the Premier League table calculator). However, if Chelsea (against Manchester United) or Aston Villa (against Tottenham) slip up on Friday evening, the Gunners will be guaranteed a place in the Champions League.
The progress made by Havertz is also good news for DFB coach Julian Nagelsmann. The Nations League semi-final against Portugal is scheduled for June 4 in Munich, with the final also taking place in Munich on June 8.