# Arsenal’s transfer gamble backfires as Havertz and Tzolis injuries threaten Arteta’s plans

- URL: https://apitofinal.pt/en/internacional-en/arsenals-transfer-gamble-backfires-as-havertz-and-tzolis-injuries-threaten-artetas-plans/
- Published: 2026-10-03T15:43:49+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-20T13:44:23+00:00
- Publisher: Apito Final (apitofinal.pt)
- Section: Internacional
- Tags: Andreas Tzolis, Arsenal, football, Germany, Kai Havertz, Martin Ødegaard

## Key points

- Arsenal's summer transfer strategy faces scrutiny as injuries to Kai Havertz and Andreas Tzolis threaten Mikel Arteta's plans.
- Havertz suffered a hamstring injury with Germany and is expected to recover in weeks, testing Arsenal's midfield depth.
- Tzolis was forced off in Greece's match against the Netherlands, with scans pending, adding to concerns over squad fitness.

## Article

Arsenal’s summer transfer strategy is now under intense scrutiny as fresh injury setbacks threaten to derail Mikel Arteta’s campaign. While the Gunners have navigated a turbulent international break with a mix of relief and concern, the squad’s fragility has been brutally exposed, placing a glaring spotlight on the risks taken during the transfer window.

Martin Odegaard’s ankle scare in Oslo sent alarm bells ringing at Arsenal headquarters, though the Norway captain’s swift recovery and full 90-minute display against Wales offered a momentary sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz’s hamstring injury, sustained in Germany’s first international fixture, has curtailed the midfielder’s involvement, forcing him back to London for treatment. Club medics anticipate a recovery measured in weeks rather than months, but any absence of Havertz will undoubtedly test Arsenal’s midfield depth.

The situation intensifies with Andreas Tzolis, who was forced off early in Greece’s clash with the Netherlands. Scans conducted on Friday will determine the extent of his injury, but this latest blow further compounds Arsenal’s mounting concerns over squad fitness and resilience.

Despite these setbacks, not all international news has been grim. Declan Rice’s withdrawal from England duty was a strategic move for load management, not injury, and Ezri Konsa overcame a minor issue to remain in Gareth Southgate’s plans. Perhaps most encouragingly, Viktor Gyokeres has reignited his scoring touch with three goals in as many games for Sweden, raising hopes that his form can translate back to the Premier League. His recent opponents mirror the calibre of clubs Arsenal face next—Nottingham Forest away, flanked by home fixtures against Leeds and Everton—presenting a timely opportunity for Gyokeres to bolster Arteta’s options.

However, the cumulative effect of Tzolis and Havertz’s injuries sharpens the spotlight on Arsenal’s summer transfer gambles. The club’s recruitment choices are now under fire, as the squad’s injury vulnerability threatens to undermine the collective strength Mikel Arteta sought to build. With key players sidelined, the Gunners face mounting pressure to adapt strategically and rely on depth that was arguably insufficiently reinforced during the transfer period.

The Premier League’s upcoming fixtures offer a relatively favourable stretch on paper, but Arsenal’s challenge will be to navigate this phase without losing momentum. The true test lies not just in managing these injuries but in addressing the squad imbalances that have emerged from a summer of high-risk transfer decisions.