Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are better equipped to handle injuries this season after confirming that Kai Havertz will be out for a few more weeks. The striker has been sidelined since August following knee surgery and suffered a setback when he tried to step up his rehabilitation.
With Havertz unavailable, Arteta must choose for Wednesday’s match against Brentford between continuing with Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker—after his goal against Chelsea—or recalling Viktor Gyökeres, who recently returned from a muscle injury. Gabriel Jesus is also pushing for involvement after an 11-month absence.
Arsenal may again be without William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, meaning new signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are likely to continue in central defence. Arteta said the club’s £250m summer investment has created a “more reliable” squad capable of covering gaps across the pitch.
He highlighted the importance of versatility, saying players must be able to fill multiple roles to compete at the highest level.
Arteta reiterated his admiration for Havertz, who has struggled with being sidelined. He said the player had been unable to “go to the next level” in training but believes progress is finally being made. Arteta called Havertz’s eventual return “a massive boost” for the team.
