Havertz says he has new hunger after injury return

Kai Havertz says he has a "new hunger" for football after a "stop-start" season due to injuries.

The 26-year-old has been restricted to just 10 appearances in all competitions because of fitness issues.

He had two long-term injuries last season with a hamstring injury he picked up on Arsenal's Dubai training camp in February requiring surgery and a knee injury he picked up on the opening day of the season keeping him out for over four months.

"I think for me personally, we all know it 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 have the team again.

"It was stop-and-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 said.

Arsenal are in Germany to play Havertz's former team Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League last 16 match.

The Gunners are still chasing trophies in four competitions and Havertz is hoping to play a big part as the season gets to its climax.

The Germany international has featured in Arsenal's last three matches but did suffer a setback in his recovery with a muscle injury he picked up in February.

"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.

"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.

"But obviously 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 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."