Arteta Hails ‘More Reliable’ Squad and Reveals Havertz Injury Blow.
Arsenal's manager remains confident that his squad can persist in handling with fitness issues following revealing that star striker Kai Havertz will not return for a few more weeks.
Extended Absence for German Star
The German forward has been sidelined for months after undergoing an operation on his knee. Originally slated to be available earlier in December, the manager stated the player encountered a problem when increasing his training and was unable to move forward “the required stage.”
“We learned, and we were able to put together a squad that is considerably steadier and has greater depth,” Arteta said.
Tactical Decisions for Midweek Fixture
This news leaves a dilemma for Wednesday’s fixture at the Emirates against Brentford. The manager needs to decide between persisting with Mikel Merino, who found the net playing out of position on Sunday, or bringing back Viktor Gyökeres, who featured briefly after a fitness issue in the latter stages. Veteran striker Gabriel Jesus is also in contention after 11 months out.
Fitness Doubts Linger
Additional concerns surround defender William Saliba and attacker Leandro Trossard, who were absent for the Chelsea match. Consequently, new recruits Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié will probably start again in central defence for the Premier League front-runners.
Arteta feels the significant outlay on reinforcements during the summer has left Arsenal in a much stronger position to navigate such setbacks.
Greater Options Key to Title Challenge
Questioned if a larger pool of players was aiding their championship push, the manager agreed. “Absolutely, because this season has presented greater challenges in some areas, and now the problems with the defence,” he added.
“We learned from the past that we need to utilize players in different positions, and they must be capable to adapt to new tasks if we aim to challenge at this level. And the case of Mikel Merino.”
Manager’s Sympathy for Suffering Star
Speaking about the delay previously mentioned by Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, Arteta offered more insight. “His recovery was progressing. He failed to advance to the next level and now the signs are like we have overcome that hurdle.”
Arteta expressed his keenness to welcome him back. “Everyone is eager to have him. I mean, he is a footballer who, in my view, I love so much for his contributions to the team, but his mentality, his attitude. I observe his frustration on the sidelines.”
“His availability record is phenomenal, he's rarely been injured, and I look forward to see him return involved and playing because I believe it’s going to be a significant uplift.”
