Kai Havertz has played only 20 times for Arsenal this season due to injuries, including a significant knee injury. Manager Mikel Arteta describes him as a 'genetic powerhouse' and a robust player.
Key points
Kai Havertz has made just 20 appearances for Arsenal this season
He suffered a knee injury that kept him out for four months
Mikel Arteta describes him as a 'genetic powerhouse'
Smaller muscle injuries have also affected his season
Mentioned in this story
Kai Havertz
Arsenal
Kai Havertz playing for Arsenal
Kai Havertz has made just 20 appearances for Arsenal this season [Getty Images]
"A genetic powerhouse", and a "robust" player who has "destroyed metrics in the gym" are ways Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described Kai Havertz.
But in the past year the Gunners have not been able to call on the Germany forward's talent nearly as much as they would like.
Havertz has been restricted to just 20 appearances this season, after a knee injury sustained on the opening day of the season kept him out for four months, along with smaller muscle injuries which have broken up his season.
The injury issues for Havertz started when he picked up a hamstring injury on a winter training camp in Dubai in February 2025 which required surgery and kept him out for three months.
Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres in the summer for £64m with the aim of both players competing for the starting striker spot.
But Havertz suffered a knee injury in the win against Manchester United in August and was out for four months after another surgery.
After recovering from that knee injury Havertz has had two setbacks, the latest of which ruled him out of Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
And he has completed just one full game this season - the 2-1 defeat by title rivals Manchester City last month.
So what does the future hold for Havertz at Arsenal?
Q&A
How many appearances has Kai Havertz made for Arsenal this season?
Kai Havertz has made just 20 appearances for Arsenal this season.
What injuries has Kai Havertz suffered this season?
Havertz suffered a knee injury on the opening day of the season, which sidelined him for four months, along with smaller muscle injuries.
What does Mikel Arteta say about Kai Havertz's physical abilities?
Mikel Arteta describes Kai Havertz as a 'genetic powerhouse' and a 'robust' player who has excelled in the gym.
Why has Arsenal not utilized Kai Havertz's talent fully this season?
Arsenal has not been able to utilize Havertz's talent fully due to his injuries, which have limited his appearances.
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Injuries and one of Arteta's favourites
Havertz has said that this season is not what he "expected it to be" and has been "stop and start".
The 26-year-old also said earlier this campaign that it was a new experience going through a major injury and he "hasn't really faced a challenge like this before".
He looked disappointed by the latest setback when he was taken off after just 34 minutes of Saturday's 1-0 win against Newcastle United.
The Gunners have been criticised for their attacking play this season and their reliance on set-piece goals.
Havertz is one of Arteta's favourite players on and off the pitch and they have missed his ability to link play.
Since his return he has played as both a midfielder and a forward, and Arteta has missed having that versatility when Arsenal are trying to break sides down.
Havertz has three goals and one assist in five Champions League games this season and scored the winner in Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting.
He has only started one game in Europe though, against Kairat Almaty in January, but came off at half-time as he built up match fitness.
Despite his availability issues, Havertz has five goals and four assists in 20 appearances, giving him a goal involvement of nearly one every two games which highlights how Arsenal miss him when unavailable.
But they have not been able to call on him nearly enough and Havertz has been restricted to just six starts in the Premier League.
As the season has progressed, there have been doubts about whether Gyokeres is the right fit for Arsenal, particularly against elite opposition.
When Havertz was fit, he started and scored against Manchester City, with Gyokeres on the bench in what was a glimpse at what would likely have been Arteta's strategy for big games if the German was fit more often.
Havertz scored by pressing City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, and without his work-rate and intelligence for large parts of this season, the Arsenal attack has looked clunky at times.
Kai Havertz celebrates
Havertz scored his fifth goal of the season in April's game against title rivals Manchester City [Getty Images]
Two years to go, and the future
Havertz will Saturday's home game against Fulham (17:30 BST) as Arsenal attempt to move six points clear in the title race.
"He has been a huge miss," Arteta said when speaking about being without Havertz for most of this season.
"We are talking about one of the most important attacking players that we have. He has been out for seven or eight months.
"He has not been the only one unfortunately with a long-term injury and players that we have missed. The team has shown an unbelievable capacity to deal with this kind of scenario and still be very competitive."
Havertz, who joined from Chelsea for £65m in 2023, will this summer enter the final two years of his contract which runs until 2028.
Before this season, there had been discussions internally about extending that deal or seeing what interest there might have been in the forward this summer if he had produced the kind of season that was expected of him.
But that process has been put on hold with Gyokeres' performances raising questions and Havertz's recent injury record lowering the possibility of a club paying his true value.
As a result, the Gunners have been linked with moves for strikers.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has said Arsenal are one of the clubs interested in signing forward Julian Alvarez, though Arteta would not be drawn on that.
"Now the focus has to be on availability and performance," Arteta said when asked about Havertz entering the last two years of his contract and how important they could be.
"Kai is desperate to be on the pitch as quick as possible. He cannot do this game [against Newcastle] but hopefully for Atletico he will be available," Arteta added when looking ahead to Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg at Emirates Stadium (20:00).
"He is pushing every boundary to achieve that. There is not time to have those kind of discussions now."