Mikel Arteta will have to come up with a creative solution to Arsenal’s front line after Kai Havertz picked up a knee injury following the win over Southampton. The German international has been in scintillating goal-scoring form with six goals in ten appearances in all competitions this season.
Arsenal’s medical staff will now assess Havertz over the next couple of days but he’ll play no part in Germany’s international break over the next fortnight as a result of the injury. There’s been no date for an expected return, though the German Football Federation said: “Kai Havertz will miss the upcoming international matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands due to knee problems.
The second international break is upon us and Arsenal go into the two-week hiatus having picked up four wins from their last four games in all competitions.
Some of those results didn’t come without scares. Mikel Arteta’s side needed two late goals to win against Leicester City after the Foxes came back from 2-0 down, while Southampton led at the Emirates Stadium before the Gunners quickly turned the game around to come out as 3-1 winners.
The results leave Arsenal in third place in the Premier League table, but level on points with reigning Champions Manchester City and just one point behind leaders Liverpool. They return to action on Saturday 19 October when they take on Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Arsenal surprisingly went a goal down against Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. However, it was Bukayo Saka who once again made the difference for his side.
Seven games into the Premier League season and Bukayo Saka has only not recorded a goal contribution in one game, which came against Leicester City last week.
Arsenal’s number seven added three more goal contributions (1 goal & 2 assists) to his already impressive tally to secure the Gunners all three points against Southampton.
Saka leads the Premier League assists chart with seven in as many games this season. As soon as Arsenal were trailing, he was the player his teammates looked to, to get them back into the game. Once again, Saka delivered.
Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has been ruled out of Germany’s two matches during the October international break due to “knee problems”.
The 25-year-old has been in excellent form so far this season and found the back of the net for the sixth time in 10 matches during Arsenal’s comeback win over Southampton on Saturday. Cameron Archer put the visitors in front at the Emirates but the Gunners responded with Havertz firing home the equaliser before Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka completed the turnaround.
However, it has now been reported that Havertz has picked up a knee injury and is set to sit out both of Germany’s National League games over the next two weeks. Julian Nagelsmann’s side travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday before hosting the Netherlands next Monday.
It might have been made harder than it should have been, but Arsenal mercifully scored three times against Aaron Ramsdale’s Southampton to grab an all-important three points. With the results of their title rivals, Mikel Arteta could not afford to drop any here.
Like with the clash with Leicester City, there was still an air of inevitability. Thankfully, on this occasion, the Gunners did not leave it until stoppage time to score two goals and very swiftly levelled the scores after Cameron Archer’s goal.
The international break is up next but the league table remains a healthy reference point to lift the mood amongst those inside the club and of course the supporters outside.
Arsenal secured another dramatic victory against newly promoted opposition as they beat Southampton 3-1. The game got off to a strong start for the Gunners who subjected Saints to lengthy and relentless pressure. They struggled to turn this into shooting opportunities though, and it was not until first-half stoppage time that they managed their first effort on target through Thomas Partey.
Things didn’t improve much after the break and it was Southampton who were able to get their noses in front through Cameron Archer on the counter attack. This seemed to wake Arsenal up and minutes later they were level when Kai Havertz seized on Bukayo Saka’s through ball to grab the equaliser.
Gabriel Martinelli has heaped praise on Arsenal star Bukayo Saka, describing him as one of the best players in the world.
Saka, 23, was instrumental in Arsenal’s comeback victory over Southampton on Saturday, ensuring the Gunners stayed hot on the heels of Premier League leaders Liverpool and Manchester City. After Southampton’s Cameron Archer netted an early goal, Saka robbed Flynn Downes to tee up Kai Havertz for his fourth goal in consecutive matches.
Martinelli, coming off the bench, then met a precise Saka cross to score in the 68th minute, before Saka himself scored late on to seal the win. With seven assists in the league this season, Saka leads the assist charts in Europe’s top five leagues and has now overtaken Arsenal legend Robert Pires with 41 assists.
Bukayo Saka is undoubtedly the shining star of Arsenal, and he proved it once again as the Gunners triumphed over Southampton with a score of 3-1. He was eager for them to maintain their unbeaten start to this new campaign by ensuring the North Londoners dominated.
Here is Bukayo Saka’s game by numbers vs. Southampton:
15 touches in opp. box
8x possession won
7 chances created
7 shots
3 duels won
2 fouls won
2 shots on target
2 assists
1 goal
The Arsenal prodigy has become a remarkable force in creating opportunities. Havertz’s efforts and contributions are commendable, but Saka has truly stepped up since the sidelining of Arsenal’s captain Odegaard.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hailed Bukayo Saka for delivering match-winning moments when the team needed them most, after his starring role in Arsenal’s 3-1 comeback victory over Southampton on Saturday.
The Gunners fell behind early in the second half after Cameron Archer scored for Southampton. However, Saka sparked the turnaround, contributing two goals and an assist to lead Arsenal to an important Premier League win.
Saka’s influence was evident when his precise pass allowed Kai Havertz to equalise, capitalising on a mistake by Flynn Downes. He then provided a perfect cross for Gabriel Martinelli to tap in, giving Arsenal the lead at 2-1. Despite Southampton threatening to equalise, Saka secured the victory with a well-deserved goal, capitalising on an error from Yukinari Sugawara late in the match.
Reflecting on Saka’s growing influence, Arteta praised his maturity and impact on the team. “That’s the maturity and the steps that players have to take,” Arteta said. “He’s been long enough in the team now – he’s earned the right to have that role. He believes in that, and he has the capacity to change games, decide games, like many other players. If you want to be at the top, players have to create those moments, and he’s certainly done that today.”
When asked if Saka’s performances should now be considered routine, Arteta disagreed, emphasising that Saka had taken his game to a new level. “I think he’s another step ahead of where he was, especially when he delivers in big moments, not just when it’s 3-0. That’s what defines a top player.”
At just 23 years old, Saka has already amassed 61 goals and 60 assists in 236 appearances for Arsenal. When asked whether his youth should still be a factor, Arteta pointed to his incredible statistics. “You can’t ignore the stats. What he’s doing at his age is unbelievable.”
Saka has started all 10 games for Arsenal across all competitions this season, as well as two Nations League matches for England. With three goals and seven assists already for the Gunners, Arteta admitted that resting the winger is a challenge given his current form.
When asked if he had considered benching Saka this season, Arteta acknowledged the need for load management. “Yeah, there is [temptation], and we’ve taken him off a couple of times this season. We have to manage his load, but at the moment, he’s in a good place.”
Arsenal entered the international break with their unbeaten Premier League record intact after a 3-1 win over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners faced an early second-half setback but rallied to secure a crucial victory that keeps their strong form alive.
Southampton stunned the home crowd with a 55th-minute opener from Cameron Archer, putting Arsenal on the back foot. However, Mikel Arteta’s side responded swiftly, with the in-form Kai Havertz equalising just three minutes later. Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to give Arsenal the lead in the 68th minute, and Bukayo Saka sealed all three points with a late strike in the 88th minute.
This marks the third consecutive week that Arsenal have been forced to come from behind, yet they have consistently found ways to earn positive results. Against Manchester City, they fought back to draw after falling behind, and a similar comeback effort saw them win late on against Leicester City. On this occasion, Arsenal trailed for only three minutes before regaining control and securing a win that, on paper, appeared more routine than the game’s flow suggested.
BBC Sport pundit Dion Dublin praised Arsenal’s newfound resilience and “grit,” qualities he believes have been missing in recent years. Speaking on Final Score, Dublin highlighted the determination within the squad, calling it a “horrible side” that enables them to push through difficult moments.
“Arsenal have got something new which I haven’t seen in many years,” Dublin said via the BBC Sport website. “This horrible side, the grit and determination – they’re all happy to do it, and they’ll muck in. They have the heart this time, and they are hurting from the disappointments of the last couple of years.”
Dublin’s comments align with what Miguel Delaney of The Independent recently observed in his Reading the Game newsletter. Delaney noted how Arteta was particularly impressed with how his team handled the emotional challenges of their recent match against Leicester City. Arteta, aware of how costly squandering leads can be, was encouraged by his team’s ability to stay composed and avoid letting emotions dictate their play.
“The Arsenal manager knows how galling it can be when a team thinks they have a game won only to squander a 2-0 lead and be pegged back to 2-2, which was why he was so enthused by the response,” Delaney wrote. “The team didn’t allow the emotion to get to them in the way they might have done in the past.”
