Mikel Arteta has confirmed a fresh injury setback for striker Kai Havertz but insists his Arsenal squad is now robust enough to withstand such blows in their pursuit of the Premier League title.
Havertz Recovery Hits a Snag
The Arsenal manager revealed that Havertz, who has been absent since August following knee surgery, has been unable to progress in his rehabilitation. The German international was anticipated to return at the beginning of this month, but Arteta stated the player could not "go to the next level" when stepping up his recovery work.
This development means Havertz is now expected to remain sidelined for a further few weeks. Arteta expressed his personal disappointment, highlighting his admiration for the player's character and phenomenal availability record prior to this issue.
Squad Selection Headache for Brentford Clash
Havertz's continued absence presents Arteta with a selection dilemma for Wednesday's Premier League fixture against Brentford at the Emirates Stadium. The manager must choose who leads the line after Sunday's victory over Chelsea.
His options include sticking with Mikel Merino, who scored as a makeshift striker against Chelsea, recalling the recently fit-again Swede Viktor Gyökeres, or potentially involving Gabriel Jesus after his own long-term layoff. Defensive concerns also persist, with William Saliba and Leandro Trossard facing fitness tests.
Arteta Hails Lessons Learned in Squad Building
Despite the injury woes, Arteta struck a confident tone about his squad's capacity to cope. He pointed to the £250 million investment in the summer transfer window as a key reason for the team's improved resilience this season.
"We learned, and we were able to put together a squad that is much more reliable and has more options," Arteta explained. He emphasised a crucial tactical evolution, noting the club has realised from recent seasons that "we have to use players in different positions" to compete at the highest level, citing Merino's successful adaptation as the prime example.
While frustrated by Havertz's delayed return, Arteta offered a glimmer of hope, suggesting the medical team may have now "unlocked" the problem preventing his progress. The Arsenal boss concluded that the returning forward will provide a "massive boost" whenever he is finally cleared to play.
