The international break may have arrived at just the right time for Arsenal. After the last pause in domestic action, Mikel Arteta’s side has struggled to secure a league victory.
Bukayo Saka sustained an injury while on England duty, followed by a disappointing loss to Bournemouth and a draw against league leaders Liverpool. Their struggles continued with a lackluster performance in a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle and a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
The end of this break offers Arsenal a chance to regroup. It’s an opportunity to restore players to full fitness and mount a strong Premier League challenge over the festive period. However, the international fixtures still underway mean a bit more waiting for fans.
Arsenal Stars During the Break
One positive for Arteta is that three of his key players are not traveling during this period. Both Saka and Declan Rice withdrew from international duty due to minor injuries—Saka limped off late in the match against Chelsea, while Rice has been dealing with a broken toe. Martin Odegaard also opted out of Norway’s squad to focus on recovering from an ankle problem.
With fewer Arsenal players in action, performances have been a mixed bag so far. Leandro Trossard played centrally for Belgium against Italy, earning praise from the national press as “the only one with ideas” during a tough match.
David Raya, however, endured an awkward moment for Spain when Fabian Ruiz’s under-hit back pass left him under pressure from Denmark’s Gustav Isaksen, leading to a costly error. Elsewhere, Jurrien Timber featured as a left-back in the Netherlands’ 4-0 win over Hungary.
Kai Havertz Shines for Germany
Germany’s Kai Havertz delivered the standout performance of the break. Under Julian Nagelsmann, Havertz has been deployed in various roles for his country over the past year, including left-back and center-forward. On Saturday evening, as Germany cruised to a 7-0 win over Bosnia, Havertz excelled in a role behind the striker.
Buli News rated Havertz’s display a 9/10, noting he “was a threat throughout.” His contributions included a goal—Germany’s third of the night—and an assist for Leroy Sané. Havertz’s goal came after a brilliant one-two with Florian Wirtz, culminating in a composed close-range finish.
Here’s how Havertz performed:
Minutes played: 90
Touches: 71
Pass success: 46/51 (90%)
Key passes: 1
Shots on target: 4
Shots off target: 1
Shots blocked: 1
Dribble success: 0/2
Duels won: 3/6
Offsides: 1
Statistics via Sofascore.
This was an incredibly productive performance from Havertz, whose 90% pass success rate was the highest among German attackers. His six shots were also the most by any player on the pitch, underscoring his menacing display.
Though Havertz has struggled for consistency at Arsenal, with just one league goal since October, this performance highlights his potential to shine for both club and country. It’s the type of form Arsenal fans will hope he can replicate in the months ahead.
