'Not easy': Kai Havertz talks trophy hunger after Arsenal injury woes | OneFootball

Forward is set to face his former club on Wednesday night

Kai Havertz has a "new hunger" to rediscover his best form during Arsenal's run-in after overcoming the most painful period of his career.

Havertz required knee surgery after the first game of the season and did not return until January.

He looked sharp in his first matches back but a hamstring issue emerged to halt his momentum once again.

The 26-year-old is fit and available again ahead of Arsenal's clash with his former club Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday night and at the pre-match press conference he reflected on a challenging 12 months.

“For me it was just tough, because I never felt that pain before in my life," Havertz said.

“And it just came randomly, but I tried to go through these things. Obviously I got my support from at home as well, my family that helped me a lot during that time.

“But 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.

“During these times, I felt how much I missed being on the pitch, how much I missed being with the boys, that feeling that 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.”

Haverz played an hour against Mansfield on Saturday in what was his first start in a month.

The Gunners are still challenging on all fronts and now face Bayer Leverkusen for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Arsenal have looked far more fluid in attack with Havertz in the side and the German has now declared himself ready to play his part in the final months of the season.

Asked if he was fully confident he could now trust his body, Havertz said: "Yeah, I think so.

"I'm confident, I'm feeling good, I'm feeling better. Obviously things can always 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."