Nocturnal 
Arsenal are bracing for scan results after Kai Havertz was withdrawn just 30 minutes into Germany’s 1-1 Nations League draw with the Netherlands on Thursday night, with a suspected hamstring injury.
The 27-year-old had earlier taken a nasty-looking challenge from Crystal Palace’s Quinten Timber, whose studs caught Havertz’s knee, but it was a separate hamstring issue that eventually forced him off, as first reported by Talksport and The Mirror.
Germany boss Jürgen Klopp confirmed after the match that Havertz would leave the camp for an MRI, along with team-mate Jamal Musiala, who had pulled out of the starting line-up in the warm-up.
“At the moment, both are on the MRI [scans],” Klopp told German radio network RTL. “Of course, that’s not great now. I just hope this is nothing bad. The boys are probably out for us, but hopefully then also relatively quickly available again.”
What it means for Arsenal
The Athletic reported that Havertz would head straight back to Arsenal’s training base for treatment rather than stay with the squad, though there’s said to be some optimism at the club that the injury may not be serious.
It’s a nervy moment for Mikel Arteta’s side regardless. Havertz started all of Arsenal’s opening Premier League fixtures this season and has scored three goals in seven appearances across all competitions.
He’s also had his fair share of fitness trouble in recent years, missing 20 matches for club and country with a hamstring problem at the end of last season, then losing the first half of the following campaign to a knee injury.
Arteta has nine matches in 27 days before the November international break, including a heavyweight run against Liverpool and Bayern Munich, so any lengthy Havertz absence would be a significant blow. Speaking last month, Arteta praised the forward’s all-round game, saying: “He is five seconds ahead of the game and he just makes the people around him better.”
A busy night across Europe
Havertz’s early withdrawal wasn’t the only talking point from a hectic night of international football. Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway edged a 3-2 thriller against Denmark, while Cristiano Ronaldo picked up a record-extending 234th cap for Portugal in their 1-0 win over Wales.
Arsenal’s Christos Tzolis was also among the scorers as Greece beat Serbia 2-1, and the Netherlands, now managed by Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi, snatched a stoppage-time equaliser through former Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo.
All of this comes against the backdrop of England’s opening Nations League fixture against world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday, a match that’s stirred plenty of debate about Thomas Tuchel’s side and their record against elite opposition. According to BBC Sport analysis, England have won just six of their past 15 matches against top-10 ranked nations.
What happens now
For now, all eyes are on Arsenal’s medical room as Havertz undergoes further assessment. The club will hope to have clarity soon on how long, if at all, he’ll be sidelined, with a Premier League clash against Leeds on the horizon once the international break wraps up.
