Arsenal to step up Yoane Wissa 'hijack' following nightmare Kai Havertz update
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Credit: Imago
Chris Smith
Thu 28 August 2025 19:01, UK
Arsenal could ramp up their interest in Brentford striker Yoane Wissa following the latest nightmare update with Kai Havertz’s injury.
The Gunners spent big on Viktor Gyokeres this summer, and after a tough debut against Manchester United, the Sweden international found lift-off with a brace against Leeds.
But Mikel Arteta still needs depth and rotational options behind Gyokeres if he’s to help Arsenal challenge for major honours this season.
Converted striker Kai Havertz was seen as that player after scoring 15 goals across all competitions last season, but the Germany international sustained a knee injury after coming on in the second half against Man United.
(Credit Imago)
Havertz missed the resounding 5-0 win over Leeds as Arteta and Arsenal supporters anxiously awaited news of his injury.
That news appears to be the worst possible, with talkSPORT reporting (28 August) that the 26-year-old requires knee surgery and is set for an ‘extended spell on the sidelines’.
The Havertz news is just the latest fitness blow for Arteta, who will be without Bukayo Saka at least in the short term after he suffered a hamstring injury against Leeds.
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Captain Martin Odegaard also left that match with a shoulder problem and remains a doubt for Sunday’s huge clash away at Liverpool.
Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media
Football Insider verdict
If Arteta and the Arsenal fanbase are gutted about the injury, it’s hard to imagine how the player himself is feeling.
The former Bayer Leverkusen man enjoyed a strong return in front of goal last season, but it could have been even better had it not been for a hamstring injury that kept him out for just over three months.
Havertz required surgery for that issue, too, leading him to miss 18 games at a critical point in the season for Arsenal (Transfermarkt).
Arsenal statsKai HavertzAppearances88Goals29Assists13Kai Havertz’s Arsenal career stats
And Havertz might well be worried about his long-term future at the Emirates, with Arsenal recently linked with a shock move for Yoane Wissa.
Newcastle United pushed for Wissa — who scored 19 Premier League goals last season — all summer, but are now closing in on a move for Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade instead.
With that in mind, the Gunners — who are long-time admirers of Wissa — may now feel like they have a better shot at landing the striker, after already considering ‘hijacking’ Newcastle’s approach.
Gabriel Jesus is also sidelined, meaning Arteta would have to return to using Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino as an auxiliary No.9 if Gyokeres also picked up an injury or needed resting.
A lack of strikers crippled Arsenal in last season’s title race, so the question now is whether or not Arteta is willing to leave that to chance once again — but a move for Wissa would surely make it difficult for Havertz to get back into the side once he returns to fitness.