Arsenal dealt injury blow as Kai Havertz limps off in Germany clash
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Arsenal have been dealt an injury blow on the first night of the international break with Kai Havertz set to undergo a scan after he limped off during Germany’s clash with the Netherlands.
Havertz was chosen to start by Jurgen Klopp for the former Liverpool manager’s first outing in the Germany dugout, but his night was cut short after going down with what appeared to be a muscle problem.
After receiving treatment on his hamstring, which was heavily taped up, the forward was replaced by Younes Ebnoutalib on the half-hour mark.
It came minutes after Havertz was caught by a heavy challenge by Crystal Palace summer signing Quinten Timber on the knee, a foul the midfielder saw yellow for but could have realistically warranted a red.
Havertz spent much of the first half of last season sidelined with a knee injury, so Mikel Arteta will be praying that Havertz has not suffered any sort of recurrence with that issue.
Jamal Musiala, meanwhile, was forced out of the match before the game even got underway despite being named in the starting XI, picking up a thigh problem in the warm-up. Klopp said both Havertz and Musiala are unlikely to face Greece at the weekend.
“Both will undergo scans tonight,” Klopp said after the game. “They’re probably out for us, but I hope they’ll be back soon [for their clubs].”
Havertz was not the only injury casualty of the game that concerned a Premier League club, with Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey forced off with a hamstring issue.
The Dutch frontman came into the game off the back of his stunning hat-trick against Manchester City, taking home the match ball despite his side losing 5-3 at the Etihad Stadium.
However, he now faces a spell on the sidelines, pulling up and requiring help from the team doctor when leaving the field.
Brobbey was injured in the build-up to Germany’s goal, which was scored in controversial fashion after it appeared Klopp’s side were going to adhere to the Netherlands’ request to stop play, only to continue and find the net through Felix Nmecha.
