Last season’s champions host last season’s runners up.

Kai Havertz suffered an injury setback during Arsenal’s win over Manchester United (Picture: Getty)

Kai Havertz has undergone surgery on the knee injury that kept him out of Arsenal’s win over Leeds United last weekend.

The G…

Last season’s champions host last season’s runners up.

Havertz sustained a knee injury in Arsenal’s win at Old Trafford.

Kai Havertz sustained a knee injury during Arsenal’s win over Manchester United last week (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal face an anxious wait to find out whether or not Kai Havertz will require surgery following the knee injury he sustaine…

He’s a wanted man.

Arsenal are ‘actively exploring the transfer market’ for cover after Kai Havertz suffered a worrying knee injury.

Havertz, 26, did not train with his teammates in an open session at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday morning.

Arsenal are assessing the severity of the injury and it is not yet known how long Havertz will be out for.

However, there is enough concern to ensure Arsenal have already decided to explore their options in the transfer market to cover for the injured Havertz.

Arsenal have expressed interest in signing a new left-winger before the transfer deadline but Havertz’s injury means the Gunners will also consider signing another forward, according to The Athletic.

This is the second injury Havertz has suffered in 2025 after he missed 18 matches in the second-half of last season through a hamstring tear he picked up during a training camp in Dubai.

Havertz has been a valued member of Mike Arteta’s squad since his £65m move from Chelsea and came on as a substitute in Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Manchester United on Sunday.

His absence leaves £64m summer signing Viktor Gyokeres as Arsenal’s only recognised striker available to Arteta ahead of this weekend’s clash with Leeds United.

Leandro Trossard has previously played as a false nine and now looks set to stay at the club, reportedly agreeing a new contract despite strong speculation over a summer move.

It was central midfielder Mikel Merino who provided cover for Havertz last season but his contributions fell away following a bright start to his temporary spell as a striker.

Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, is still out with the ACL injury he suffered back in January and is not expected to return any time soon.

Who could Arsenal sign as cover for Kai Havertz?

Arsenal were one of many clubs linked with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson earlier in the summer.

Jackson is pushing for a move away from Stamford Bridge following the signings of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap and is believed to be keen to stay in the Premier League.

Chelsea initially slapped an eye-watering £80m price tag on Jackson but have already reduced that figure, open but not desperate to get the Senegal international off the books before the transfer window shuts.

Arsenal have also held interest in Newcastle United wantaway forward Alexander Isak for over a year but are unlikely to rival Liverpool for a deal that could cost up to £150m.

Others attacking players linked with the Gunners in recent weeks include Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku.

Rodrygo struggled for game-time during the Club World Cup and was an unused substitute in Real Madrid’s La Liga opener, while Nkunku is keen to leave Chelsea amid interest from Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.

Losing Havertz for a significant period of time would be a substantial blow to an Arsenal team hoping to go one better and win the Premier League this season.

Arteta’s side are one of the favourites to win the title along with defending champions Liverpool and revitalised Manchester City.

Ex-England defender Gary Neville struggles to separate Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City, insisting they all have ‘genuine cases’ to believe the can lift the title.

Speaking after the opening weekend of the new season, he said: ‘Between Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City, all of them have got cases to win the Premier League.

‘All equal cases as well, I don’t think you can look at any of the three and think they’re definitely above the others. 

‘Liverpool could easily win the league, especially if they get Alexander Isak, they could easily win the league by five or six points.

‘We could be staring the obvious in the face with Man City signing [Tijjani] Reijnders and getting Rodri back. They’ve got the best striker in the league and probably the world [Erling Haaland] who scores 40 goals a season. 

‘We could look back in six months and be saying it was staring us in the face because City have got a treble-winning spine, they’ve got new players in who look outstanding and they’ve got the best forward in the league. 

‘Then you look at Arsenal and think the last two pieces of the jigsaw have been filled with [Viktor] Gyokeres and [Martin] Zubimendi. The defence looks outstanding, they look like a real team and they’re tough to beat. 

‘All three of those teams have got genuine cases. Liverpool may be slight favourites but I don’t think any club will be completely confident to win the league even though they all have a great chance. It’s really close.’ 

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Troy Deeney has major doubts about Arsenal summer signing Viktor Gyokeres and believes he could even lose his place in the team.

Arsenal fans have high hopes for Gyokeres following his £64m move from Portuguese champions Sporting.

Gyokeres enjoyed two sensational seasons at Sporting, scoring 97 goals in 102 appearances, and will hope for more success at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta has been desperate for a new striker for well over a year and decided to sign Gyokeres over the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Ollie Watkins.

But Deeney is ‘not convinced’ Gyokeres will succeed at Arsenal and says he could even lost his place in the side to Kai Havertz.

Havertz led the line for Arsenal for much of last season before suffering an injury. Back fit, the former Chelsea star scored in the final pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao along with Gyokeres.

‘I am not convinced Viktor Gyokeres will score as many goals for Arsenal as people think,’ Deeney wrote in a column for The Sun.

‘My frustration is always that these guys are instantly put on a pedestal. People don’t realise the difference between playing in Portugal and playing for Arsenal or Manchester United or Liverpool.

‘Gyokeres’ numbers are fantastic. You can never deny the goals he scored in Portugal – it’s up there with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi levels.

‘But he had a lot of chances because Sporting dominated the ball. And then when Ruben Amorim left for Man United last November, he wasn’t as prolific.

‘In Arsenal’s pre-season games, he missed a few chances and there is the feeling that the shirt is a bit heavier to wear than at Sporting.

‘Gyokeres will score goals and is a really good player. He will grab a couple of hat-tricks against the lesser teams like Leeds or Wolves. But in the big moments, does he score at Anfield? I’m not sure.

‘And the fact that they took so long to get Gyokeres over the line, the fact they also flirted with Benjamin Sesko, that has set off alarm bells for me.

‘The good thing is that Arsenal have depth now. I reckon Kai Havertz will play a lot of football this season. Mikel Arteta loves him – he’s his type of player to lead the line. Is that Gyokeres? I’m not sure.

‘And if Havertz goes on a run then Gyokeres doesn’t get back in. I could see that scenario.’

Gyokeres looks set to make his competitive Arsenal debut on Sunday when the Gunners face Manchester United at Old Trafford.

United also worked hard to bring in a new goalscorer this summer, signing Slovenia international Sesko from RB Leipzig.

Deeney says Sesko ‘fits the bill’ for a Manchester United side desperately looking to improve after a 15th-place finish last season.

‘I really like Sesko’s move to United, and I wouldn’t bet against him starting at Old Trafford against Arsenal, even if it is just for an hour,’ Deeney added.

‘He has come from the Red Bull model of wild counter-pressing and intensity. That may not have suited Arteta’s structure but with what United are trying to be, he fits the bill.’

Sesko could start against Arsenal along with fellow Manchester United summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)

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