Arsenal faced a significant injury setback in their title chase as Kai Havertz was forced to leave the field during the first half of their Premier League victory over Newcastle. He was followed by Eberechi Eze, who also suffered an injury.
Havertz went down off the ball at the 33-minute mark, experiencing discomfort in his upper leg, though the nature of the injury was unclear.
After receiving treatment, the Germany international exited the pitch with the assistance of an Arsenal physiotherapist before heading straight to the locker room.
Viktor Gyokeres took his place on the field; Havertz had previously provided the assist for Eze’s remarkable opening goal in the ninth minute.
Kai Havertz receives treatment at the Emirates (PA)
Mikel Arteta noted that both players would undergo assessments for their “muscular injuries” in preparation for Arsenal’s upcoming match against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
Havertz appeared visibly upset as he left the pitch, with uncertainty surrounding the severity of his injury and its potential impact on his availability for this summer’s World Cup.
This season has been marred by injuries for Havertz, including a serious knee injury he sustained in August against Manchester United, which sidelined him for 32 games. He has continued to face challenges in regaining full fitness, including a muscle issue in February.
On a positive note, Arsenal welcomed back Bukayo Saka from injury, who started on the bench. However, these latest injuries threaten to further deplete Arteta’s attacking lineup as they aim to secure silverware for the first time in six years under his guidance.