Mikel Arteta's plans for Arsenal's Premier League title challenge have been dealt another significant blow, with forward Kai Havertz suffering a fresh setback in his recovery from knee surgery.
Recovery Roadblock for German Forward
The 26-year-old German international, who has managed just one solitary appearance this season, is now expected to be sidelined until early to mid-January. That sole outing came on the opening day of the campaign in Arsenal's 1-0 victory away at Manchester United, where Havertz came off the bench at Old Trafford.
It later emerged that the forward sustained a knee injury during that match, leading to surgery the following week. His road back to fitness had been progressing, with reports suggesting he was days away from a first-team return in November before disaster struck in training.
January Return Now the Target
According to reports, Havertz went down with a problem in one of the final training sessions before his proposed comeback. This has forced a significant shift in his rehabilitation timeline.
The attacker has been doing individual work since the setback occurred and has not yet rejoined full training with his teammates at London Colney. Arsenal and the player are now targeting a return in the new year.
Havertz is reportedly hopeful of being match-ready for the Gunners' heavyweight Premier League clash at home to reigning champions Liverpool on January 8. However, a more realistic target may be the FA Cup third-round tie against Portsmouth just three days later.
A Frustrating Year for Havertz
This latest issue extends a deeply frustrating 12-month period for the former Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen star. His campaign was also disrupted by a serious hamstring injury picked up during Arsenal's warm-weather training camp in Dubai back in February.
The prolonged absence of a player of Havertz's calibre is a concern for Arteta as he looks to maintain Arsenal's push at the top of the table. The manager will be eager to integrate the 2021 Champions League winner back into his squad as soon as he is fully fit.
