Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s strengthened squad can handle further injury setbacks after confirming Kai Havertz will be out for a few more weeks. The Germany forward, sidelined since August after knee surgery, struggled to “go to the next level” in rehab and will face a longer recovery than expected.
Arteta must now decide whether to continue with Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker for Wednesday’s match against Brentford or turn to Viktor Gyökeres, who recently returned from a muscle injury. Gabriel Jesus is also pushing for a comeback after 11 months out.
William Saliba and Leandro Trossard remain doubts after missing the Chelsea game, meaning summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié could again start in central defence. Arteta believes the club’s £250m investment in the squad has made Arsenal “more reliable” and better equipped to cope.
He said the team has learned to adapt: “We have to use players in different positions if we want to compete at this level.”
Arteta also praised Havertz’s professionalism, saying the player “suffers being outside” and that his eventual return will be “a massive boost” for the Premier League leaders.
