Kai Havertz arrived at Arsenal hailed by Mikel Arteta as a "genetic powerhouse"—a "robust" talent who has "destroyed metrics in the gym." Yet, for much of this season, the Gunners have had to watch that potential from the sidelines.

The Germany international has been limited to just 20 appearances in a campaign plagued by injury. It began with a knee injury on the opening day of the season, sidelining him for four months. That followed a hamstring issue during a winter training camp in Dubai in February 2025, which required surgery and kept him out for three months.

Arsenal invested £64m in Viktor Gyokeres over the summer, with plans for the two forwards to compete for the starting striker role. But Havertz's season unraveled further when he suffered another knee injury in August's win over Manchester United, leading to a second surgery and another four-month absence.

Even after returning, setbacks have continued. The latest ruled him out of Arsenal's 1-1 Champions League semi-final first-leg draw against Atletico Madrid. To date, he has completed just one full match this season—last month's 2-1 defeat to title rivals Manchester City.

Havertz himself has admitted this isn't the season he "expected it to be," describing it as "stop and start." For a 26-year-old who had never faced such a significant injury challenge before, the frustration is palpable. That disappointment was evident when he was forced off after just 34 minutes of Saturday's 1-0 win over Newcastle United.

Arsenal's attack has faced criticism this season, with over-reliance on set-piece goals. Arteta has always valued Havertz's ability to link play—both as a midfielder and forward—and his versatility has been sorely missed. As the Gunners push through a demanding campaign, the question remains: can Havertz rediscover his rhythm and become the consistent force Arsenal hoped for?