Arsenal dealt big injury blow as Kai Havertz pulls out of Germany squad with knee problem

Arsenal have been handed a fresh injury concern after Kai Havertz was forced to pull out of the Germany squad with a knee problem.

Havertz completed 90 minutes in Saturday’s 3-1 win against Southampton but will not join up with the Germany squad for the upcoming international break.

The German Football Association said on Sunday: “Kai Havertz will miss the upcoming international matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands due to knee problems. Get well soon, Kai!”

Havertz’s fitness will be a concern for Mikel Arteta. He has become a key player for the Gunners, who have three important games in eight days against Bournemouth, Shakhtar Donetsk and Liverpool after the international break.

Havertz has been in fine form and scored for a fourth successive game to help Arsenal beat Southampton on Saturday.

The 25-year-old has also now scored on each of his last seven appearances at Emirates Stadium.

In total, Havertz has scored six goals in 10 games for Arsenal this season.

After another starring role against Southampton, Arteta praised Havertz and said “something has changed” in the German.

“You can tell [his confidence has grown], he takes the ball and he runs with the ball,” said Arteta.

“He’s on high press, he goes full gas, the way he holds the ball, the position he takes in the box. He’s an attacking midfielder, he plays as a nine, you don’t know where he is, that’s his football brain. His focus now is ‘I’m going to win the game, I’m going to do it’ and that’s a different thing.

“When he’s practising, he wants more and he’s not satisfied with what he’s doing because there is still, I think, another level from him.

“Obviously, he’s surrounded by incredible players but something has changed in him and that confidence, you really sense it and now he’s putting it into games and he’s winning football matches which is great.”