Durable Havertz 'must be ready for a rest'

Kai Havertz has faced criticism over his finishing but one aspect of his game which cannot be faulted is his staying power.

The 25-year-old has never missed more than six games in a row since making his professional debut for Bayer Leverkusen in October 2016.

His longest period of absence came while at Chelsea when he contracted Covid and missed six consecutive matches, which included two games with the German national team.

Since his debut in 2016, Havertz has played 429 matches for his various clubs and country and averaged around 48 games per season, playing a career-high 65 matches last season.

Although Havertz will be disappointed to miss out on leading the line as Arsenal battle for the title, he must be ready for a rest, especially before the 2025-26 season, which ends with an expanded World Cup across North America.