Kai Havertz has suffered a setback in his recovery from knee surgery and is expected to be sidelined until early to mid-January.
The 26-year-old forward has managed just one solitary appearance this season, which came on the first day of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign away to Manchester United.
While Havertz came off the bench and saw out remainder of Arsenal’s 1-0 victory that day, it later emerged that the German had picked up a serious knee injury at Old Trafford – and he went under the knife the following week.
According to Daily Mail Sport, Havertz had been a matter of days away from his first-team return in November, no doubt itching to get back out on the pitch to help contribute towards the Gunners’ title push.
But Havertz went down with a problem in one the final training sessions before his proposed comeback and the attacker has been forced to shift his target date back to the middle of January.
The report adds that Havertz is hopeful of being match ready in time for the Premier League leaders’ heavyweight clash at home to reigning champions Liverpool on January 8.
However, it’s claimed Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round tie with Portsmouth three days later may be a more realistic target for the 2021 Champions League winner.
The former Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen man has been doing individual work since suffering the setback and is still yet to join up with his team-mates for full training at London Colney.
It has been a deeply frustrating 12 months for Havertz, who also sustained a hamstring tear during Arsenal’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai back in mid-February.
Mikel Arteta’s squad has been hit by a number of injuries as the season has wore on, with Gabriel Magalhaes arguably the most damaging absentee during the club’s mini slump.
Ben White, summer signing Cristhian Mosquera and teenage sensation Max Dowman have all joined Gabriel on Arteta’s list of fitness concerns in recent days.
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The north Londoners have, though, been boosted by the return of William Saliba, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres ahead of their hectic winter schedule.
Arsenal head coach Arteta has been reluctant to put an exact timescale on Havertz’s potential return to the fold when facing the media.
Asked for an update on Havertz’s progression at the start of the month, the Spaniard told reporters: ‘A matter of weeks.
‘Let’s see how it evolves in the next few weeks.
‘He’s doing really well, he’s doing stuff on the pitch, but I think he needs some time.’
Top-of-the-table Arsenal will be targeting a much-improved performance when they return to Premier League action away to Everton this weekend.
While Arteta’s men got the better of lowly Wolves last time out, it took a late own goal from Yerson Mosquera to secure the leaders victory at the Emirates.
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