Arsenal have been dealt another injury setback after it emerged that Kai Havertz will remain sidelined until early to mid-January following complications in his recovery from knee surgery.
Havertz has not featured since sustaining the injury during the Gunners’ opening Premier League fixture of the season against Manchester United on August 17.
The 26-year-old underwent minor knee surgery a week after that match, with initial expectations that he would be available again before the end of the calendar year. His rehabilitation progressed steadily through October and into November, placing him on course for a return far sooner than originally feared.
Kai Havertz of Arsenal during a training session. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
However, Arsenal’s medical staff were forced to reassess their timeline after the Germany international suffered an issue during his final training sessions late last month.
The setback occurred when he was reportedly just one week away from being named in a matchday squad, effectively resetting his recovery and delaying his return until next month.
Arsenal are now targeting mid-January as the most realistic window for Havertz to be match-squad ready, with his return expected to be eased rather than rushed.
There is an outside chance he could be included for the Premier League clash against Liverpool on January 8, but the FA Cup third-round tie against Portsmouth three days later is viewed as a more likely reintroduction.
Mikel Arteta has been forced to make various changes to his squad this season with the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White and Max Dowman currently sidelined.
