Kai Havertz relishing Bayer Leverkusen return as Arsenal forward reflects on injury setbacks

Havertz spent a decade developing at Leverkusen before leaving for Chelsea in 2020, and he admitted it felt strange to be back at the BayArena six years later.

"It is amazing to be back," Havertz said. "I have seen a lot of familiar faces. It feels like yesterday I was here but it was six years ago. I played here for 10 years.

"But I am here to win the match with Arsenal and fly back home with the victory. My family will be here - my son and my wife have come from England."

The 26-year-old expects a difficult encounter against his former club.

"I know myself how tough Leverkusen are to beat," he added. "They are a very good team. We're thinking about the first leg, trying to win that game and then going again in the second leg."

The reunion comes after a turbulent year for Havertz, who has been working his way back from a series of injuries that disrupted his season. The Germany international underwent two surgeries in seven months after suffering a hamstring problem during a training camp in Dubai before later requiring knee surgery in August.

Those setbacks forced him to miss more than 20 matches, while a further muscular issue sidelined him again last month.

"For me it was tough because I never felt that pain before in my life and it just came randomly," Havertz said. "Having two surgeries is not easy, but I'm professional enough to know that it's part of football sometimes.

"Mentally it was tough, but I got help from my family, from Arsenal and from the players. During that time I realised how much I missed being on the pitch and being with the boys. It gave me a new hunger."

Now easing back into the squad under Mikel Arteta, Havertz believes his fitness problems are behind him.

"I'm confident, I'm feeling good and I'm feeling better," he said. "Obviously things can always happen but I feel 100 percent ready to play games and help the team in the next couple of months."

Arsenal will face Leverkusen in the Champions League for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign, while Arteta believes his side are better equipped for the competition after reaching the semi-finals last season.

"They certainly have more experience in the competition," Arteta said. "Now they understand it better, but we still have to perform."