Arsenal discover Kai Havertz injury fate after striker pulled out of Germany squad

Arsenal are reportedly confident that Kai Havertz has not suffered a serious knee injury after the forward pulled out of Germany’s squad for their Nations League matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands.

The 25-year-old played the entire 90 minutes as Arsenal defeated Southampton 3-1 on Saturday, but raised concerns the following day with a knee complaint that forced him out of international duty.

A statement by the German Football Association read: “Kai Havertz will miss the upcoming international matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands due to knee problems.”

But the Daily Mail claim that Arsenal are confident Havertz won’t be a long-term absentee and his knee complaint isn’t considered a serious issue, despite being enough to keep him out of playing for Germany.

It is unclear whether the striker will be fit enough to play in Arsenal’s first match after the international break, when the Gunners travel to Bournemouth.

Their top scorer is the latest injury worry heading into the break, with Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko all missing the comeback win over Southampton.

Havertz flourished in a free role against Russell Martin’s outfit at the Emirates, where he played off fellow striker Gabriel Jesus. He scored the equalising goal after Cameron Archer broke the deadlock, tipping the ball around a flailing Southampton defender before powering an effort past Aaron Ramsdale.

He became just the second Arsenal player to score in seven consecutive Emirates appearances, after Robin van Persie, continuing to flourish under Mikel Arteta after a £65million move from Chelsea.

“You can tell [his confidence has grown], he takes the ball and he runs with the ball,” Arteta said of Havertz after triumphing over Southampton. “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.”