Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s strengthened squad is well equipped to handle more injury setbacks after confirming Kai Havertz will be out for a few more weeks. The German forward, sidelined since August after knee surgery, suffered a setback when attempting to increase his rehabilitation workload.
With Havertz unavailable, Arteta must choose between continuing with Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker against Brentford or recalling Viktor Gyökeres, who recently returned from injury. Gabriel Jesus is also nearing a comeback after 11 months out.
Defensive concerns persist as William Saliba and Leandro Trossard remain doubtful, meaning summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are likely to start again. Arteta said Arsenal’s £250m summer investment has created a “more reliable” squad capable of coping with absences across the pitch.
Arteta expressed his admiration for Havertz and said unlocking the next stage of his recovery had taken time. He called Havertz’s return “a massive boost” and praised his consistency, character, and impact on the team.
