Kai Havertz injury update as Arsenal star makes decision and timeline emerges

Arsenal star Kai Havertz is set to undergo surgery on a knee injury (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal star Kai Havertz is set to undergo surgery on his knee, but is not expected to be out for a significant period with the injury according to The Athletic .

Prior to making a decision on how to treat the injury, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was unable to offer a clear update. "He's certainly not fit for this match [vs Leeds], unfortunately," he said last week.

"We don't really know yet the extent of it. I think we need a bit more time and some more tests and - after that - we will have more clarity about the next steps. Now, he's got a setback, let's see how bad it is."

Some clarity on his status has seemingly now been provided with the hope being that the Germany international can return no later than early November.

Havertz is therefore expected to miss Premier League home fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, West Ham United and Crystal Palace alongside trips to Liverpool, Newcastle United, Fulham and Burnley.

The 26-year-old will also be absent for several Champions League matches and potentially two Carabao Cup ties. Havertz is not the only key Arsenal star dealing with an injury as both Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka suffered issues against Leeds United.

Saka, meanwhile, is very unlikely to feature, factoring in that it was a muscular problem and Arteta's update after the game this past weekend.

"Bukayo, while he was running with the ball, carrying the ball, wrestling with the defender, he felt something in his hamstring. So let's see. I think it's the other one. It's not the same one as the previous injury," he admitted in a press conference.

"He felt something while he was sprinting. That's never a good sign.

"We'll have to wait tomorrow [Sunday]. Speak to the doctors as well and understand better what he does. But he's had these injuries before. He knows exactly the feeling of that. So let's wait."

The expectation is that Saka will miss up to four weeks with the injury, but the September international break being on the horizon means he could miss just three games.