Kai Havertz has new hunger for Arsenal success after overcoming 'worst pain' of his career with injuries

Kai Havertz is back where it all began. Arsenal's meeting with Bayer Levekusen at the BayArena pits him against his former club for the first time since his exit six years ago. And he returns having overcome what he calls the "worst pain" of his career.

Havertz was on track for his highest-scoring season when he tore his hamstring in February of last year. Thirteen months, two surgeries - one on his hamstring, one on his knee - and a series of setbacks later, he hopes he is finally through to the other side.

His 62-minute appearance in Saturday's win over Mansfield was only his fourth start of the season and followed cameos against Chelsea and Brighton. There is a sense of rhythm being built. He is now targeting only his second European appearance this season.

"I think we all know this season was not what I expected it to be, but I always think that things happen for a reason, and now I'm back and I feel good, and I'm happy to help the team again," he said at a press conference ahead of Wednesday's game.

"It has been stop-start, but sometimes football is like this. I haven't really faced a challenge like this before in my career, so I just tried to give everything to be back as soon as I could, and now I'm just happy to be back and be here and help the team."

Havertz had never previously suffered any significant injuries during his career. "It's been something new for him," said manager Mikel Arteta. "When you look at his injury record, it's just blank."

A player once known for his robustness admits he has had to learn to trust his body again. "I think so, yes, because obviously I had two, now three injuries behind each other," he added.

The last year has tested him mentally as well as physically. Havertz has played a total of only 395 minutes in all competitions since his injury in February, forced to watch from the sidelines. He hasn't completed 90 minutes in any game this season.

"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.

"Obviously I got my support at home. My family that helped me a lot during that time. Having two surgeries after another is not easy, but I think I'm professional enough to know that this is also part of football sometimes.

"I know that there are so many players out there that went through stages of their career also - and I think I'm still young. So I've got a lot of years hopefully in front of me.

"Mentally it was tough, but I got help from at home, from Arsenal, from the players, so everyone was lifting my spirits. During these times, I felt how much I missed being on the pitch, how much I missed being with the boys, that feeling you have after a game.

"I missed it so much. That's why it was mentally so hard for me, because I couldn't be there. It just gave me a new hunger.

"I'm confident, I'm feeling good, I'm feeling better. Obviously things can happen, but I'm feeling 100 per cent ready to play games, I'm feeling fit, and I can't wait to help the team in the next couple of months."

Competition for places, Chelsea lessons

He has returned to increased competition in the squad, including up front. Viktor Gyokeres has led the line for much of the season in his absence. Havertz, who has mostly played in midfield when he has featured lately, is relishing the fight for places.

"I think sometimes it's tough for the manager to decide who's playing and who's not playing, but I think that's our job, to make it hard for him," he said

"So I think competition is always good, and I think there's not going to be a lot of arguments, especially between players, about anything.

"It's just we are a team and we all have to compete together and win games."

His return to fitness has reopened discussions around his best position. Havertz was playing almost exclusively up front before his injury last year and has an impressive record of 15 goals and nine assists in 31 Premier League starts in the position.

"I missed this question, I think I've got this a lot," he added with a smile. "Honestly, I can't answer it to you, because it started when I was here in Germany, in Leverkusen, I just played all the positions in attack and I'm used to it.

"Also when I was an academy player I just played wherever the coach needed it to be. Sometimes obviously it's good, sometimes it's bad, but for myself honestly it's the truth, for me I don't mind, I just want to be a threat in the box, want to score goals, want to assist players, and I think that's also my biggest strength, to be present in the box.

"But I also played left-back at the national team, so I think there's not a lot of positions left anymore which I haven't played, so honestly it's up to the coach."

Havertz has Champions League-winning experience having scored the winning goal for Chelsea in the 2021 final and now hopes to repeat the feat with Arsenal.

"I think obviously we had also lots of experienced players, the same as we have now," he said.

"I think sometimes we had games where we needed a bit of luck as well, but at the end of the day I think we just stood together as a group and we started to go on a run, win games.

"It was always tough matches, matches that were on the edge, and then we had just sometimes moments where we could lose the match, but also could win them, and we decided to win them always.

"For me, obviously, it was a great experience to be in the final, to win that final and to score, so it was top memories. I just hope I can do it here as well with Arsenal now this season."