Arsenal knee injury setback

Havertz knee assessment creates uncertainty ahead of a busy start to the season with key matches on the horizon.

Arsenal face knee injury setback Havertz is assessed

Kai Havertz is being assessed after a knee problem emerged ahead of Arsenal's trip to Liverpool. He was absent from the club's open training session at the Emirates and has only recently returned from a hamstring injury that kept him out from February to May.

Arsenal will monitor the knee until it settles before any further tests. If Havertz misses time, Viktor Gyokeres is expected to lead the line, with Mikel Arteta weighing options for the early fixtures. Merino could serve as an emergency No 9, though that would be a stopgap. The club also faced extended injuries last season, with Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka among those sidelined. Saturday's match against Leeds looms as a test for Gyokeres, after a modest Premier League debut at Manchester United. Sky Sports has expanded its live coverage this season, scheduling at least 215 games with a larger share on Sky Sports.

Arsenal’s injury setback underscores a broader challenge for a squad that has repeatedly relied on a core group to carry results. A knee issue, even if minor, can ripple through the opening weeks and force Arteta to rethink roles and formations. Gyokeres steps into a high-pressure spotlight, needing quick adaptation to lead the line if Havertz is unavailable. The plan hinges on depth and flexibility, strengths the club has spoken of but not consistently shown in the league. This episode also highlights how elite teams must prepare for disruption and have ready-made alternatives, a theme amplified by Sky Sports’ broader coverage that adds pressure to deliver entertaining, high-stakes football from the outset.

Highlights

The coming weeks will test Arsenal's adaptability and depth.