Kai Havertz says the injury problems that kept him sidelined for long periods have given him a renewed hunger as he returns to help Arsenal during the decisive stretch of the season.
The forward has endured a difficult year disrupted by injuries, missing 51 matches after suffering a torn hamstring during a training camp in Dubai in February last year (18 matches) and later sustaining a knee injury on the opening day at Old Trafford in August.
Both setbacks required surgery and forced him into an unfamiliar spell on the sidelines.
Havertz has since returned to action and has already contributed two goals and two assists while operating in a deeper role. The experience of that time in rehabilitation proved mentally demanding for a player who had rarely dealt with such problems earlier in his career.
“It was just tough because I never felt that mental pain before in my life,” he said. “Having two surgeries [one] after another is not easy. I felt how much I missed being on the pitch, being with the boys, that feeling after a game.
“That’s why it was mentally so hard for me, because I couldn’t be there. It just gave me a new hunger.”
The 26-year-old also described the emotional challenge of coping with injury while watching his team continue their campaign without him.
“For me it was just tough because I never felt that pain before in my life and it just came randomly. But I tried to go through these things, and I got my support from my family. That helped me a lot during that time.
“Having two surgeries, one after another (one on his hamstring last season, then on his knee this term), is not easy but I’m professional enough to know that’s part of football. I’m young, so I’ve got a lot of years hopefully in front of me, but mentally it was tough.
“I tried to help the players off the pitch because I was at the training ground every day and I saw them competing in the games in the stadium and for me it was a joy to watch them.”
The time away from the pitch has strengthened his determination to contribute during Arsenal’s run in across multiple competitions.
“I missed it so much. That’s why it was mentally so hard because I couldn’t be there and it just gave me a new hunger.
“I’m so happy to be with the team again and be on the pitch.”
Arsenal continue their Champions League campaign with a last 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen, beginning with the first leg in Germany, where Havertz returns to the club he represented 150 times, with 46 goals and 31 assists, before leaving in 2020. The forward was unable to properly say goodbye to supporters at the time because of Covid restrictions.
“When I walked through the door, it felt like yesterday the last time I was here,” he said.