MIKEL ARTETA EXPLAINS HAVERTZ’S "RECORD-BREAKING" BODY TRANSFORMATION AMID 2025 INJURY WOES
Kai Havertz is back! Fans speculate on his "slimmer" physique after Mikel Arteta claimed he broke every gym record.
Kai Havertz, who's barely played this season with just one appearance, is back training with the Gunners. He’s been out since August with a knee problem and missed the latter half of 2024/25 because of a hamstring injury. It’s been a while since he started a league game for Mikel Arteta—almost a year, since that 5-1 win against Manchester City on February 2, 2025.
Fans online were happy to see Havertz in recent training photos the club shared, since he's been out of sight for so long this past year. Plus, they've noticed he looks different.
Fans Think Havertz Might Have Missed Gym Sessions
When Havertz came back from his hamstring injury in the summer pre-season, lots of fans were surprised by his body change; he'd clearly put on muscle while he was recovering.
Some fans commented, "He looks like the old Havertz again." Others said, "I thought I was the only one who noticed!" Someone else wrote, "It's alright, tbh." He’s probably still a bit bigger than in 23/24.
One idea about why he looks different was that he probably realised his body and knees don’t do well with that much muscle, which led to injuries.
Some people weren't so sure about the change. One fan said, "He seems to have lost all that muscle he gained." He looks like he did when he first joined, which isn't great.
Arteta Said Why Havertz Got Bigger This Summer
His body has changed. The last few years have been so packed that he didn't have time to work on it, so this was a chance he wanted to take.
The staff told him he could really improve his physique, and he was up for it. You can see his presence, and he beat all our gym records from the past decade. Everything: power, speed, muscle, you name it. He's improved his body and his agility; it's been amazing.
Here’s what he looked like this summer before his injury:
So, it'll be interesting to see if he gets back in that kind of shape as he gets back to full fitness over the next few months.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
