Arsenal striker Kai Havertz has confirmed that his hamstring operation was successful and he is now on the road to full recovery.
Havertz had been spearheading the Arsenal attack in recent weeks following a serious injury to Gabriel Jesus. However, on a warm weather training trip to Dubai this past week disaster struck as the German suffered a hamstring complaint.
On Thursday, the Gunners confirmed that Havertz would be undertaking an operation and that his recovery would extend into the summer, ending his season. Now, following the operation, the 25-year-old has provided an update from his hospital bed.
"The last few days have been tough to process both physically and mentally," Havertz began. "But yesterday was a good day.
"A successful operation and a win [for Arsenal]. Thanks for all the messages of support over the last few days, it’s really helped.
"I’m now focused on my journey to full fitness and giving all the support I can give to the team in the background." In his absence from the first team, Arsenal did struggle to score against lowly Leicester City and did look like conceding at times.
However, a late double salvo from Mikel Merino rescued an important three points for the Gunners as they closed the gap, if only temporarily, to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table. The Reds had a seven point lead at the top of the division before the weekend and that has since been cut to four by Arsenal.
Arne Slot's side return to action this afternoon when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. Arteta, meanwhile, discussed the hammer blow to his side and said: "We were having a great camp in Dubai recharging, training, having some time off and connecting again with nature in a different environment, and then the injury happened in a very unexpected way.
"He was going to stop a shot after a set-piece, then he stretched the leg and felt his hamstring. "Certainly it is a big blow because of the injuries that we have but fortunately, we've been through a lot this season.
"We have played without Gabriel, without Saliba, Ben White all season, Tomiyasu all season, Calafiori for two months, Merino for two months, Martin Odegaard for two months, Bukayo Saka for three months, Gabriel Jesus… all of them. "That’s the challenge ahead. I love it and look forward because we are still where we are with all the things I mentioned on top of playing four times with 10 men.
"Let's see what the team is made of. W"e've been through a lot and we have sustained the level of performance and results until this point, so we are more than capable of doing it."
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