🔗 Share this article

Arsenal's manager remains confident that his side can persist in handling with fitness issues after confirming that star striker Kai Havertz is not ready for a few more weeks.

Prolonged Recovery for German Star

The German forward has been absent since the summer after undergoing knee surgery. Hoped to return sooner, Arteta explained the player faced a hurdle when advancing his recovery and could not progress “the next phase.”

“We took lessons, and managed to assemble a team that is considerably steadier and has more options,” stated the manager.

Selection Dilemma for Midweek Fixture

This development creates a tactical puzzle for the midweek home game against Brentford. A decision is required between persisting with Mikel Merino, who found the net as a makeshift striker against Chelsea, or reinstating Viktor Gyökeres, who featured briefly from a muscle injury in the latter stages. Long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus is also an option after 11 months out.

Defensive Concerns Remain

More doubts affect defender William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard, who were absent for the Stamford Bridge game. Therefore, new recruits Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are expected to continue in central defence for the Premier League front-runners.

Arteta believes the £250m spend on reinforcements ahead of this season has placed the club in a more robust situation to handle such setbacks.

Greater Options Vital for Premier League Pursuit

Questioned if more options was helping their league challenge, Arteta was emphatic. “Indeed, as this campaign has presented greater challenges in some areas, and now the problems with the defence,” he noted.

“We learned from the past that we have to use players in alternative spots, and they need to be prepared to adapt to new tasks if we want to compete at this level. And the instance of Mikel is probably the prime illustration.”

Arteta's Support for Suffering Havertz

Speaking about the delay previously mentioned by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, the manager gave further detail. “His recovery was progressing. He failed to advance to the next level and now it’s looking like we have unlocked that.”

The manager conveyed his keenness to have him back. “The team is keen to have him. Truly, he is a footballer who, for me, I love so much for his contributions to the team, but his mentality, his personality. I watch him struggle on the sidelines.”

“His availability record is phenomenal, he’s been always available, and I am eagerly awaiting to get him back around the team on the pitch because I think it’s going to be a massive boost.”