Arsenal's manager feels assured that his team can persist in handling with player absences after revealing that forward Kai Havertz is not ready for several more weeks.
Prolonged Recovery for German Star
The Germany international has been out since the summer following an operation on his knee. Initially expected to return earlier in December, Arteta revealed the player hit a snag when increasing his recovery and failed to reach “to the next level.”
“Our experience helped us build a team that is much more reliable and has increased versatility,” Arteta said.
Selection Dilemma for Midweek Fixture
This update presents a selection headache for the midweek fixture at the Emirates against Brentford. A decision is required between persisting with Mikel Merino, who got a goal playing out of position on Sunday, or bringing back Viktor Gyökeres, who featured briefly off the bench in the latter stages. Veteran striker Gabriel Jesus is also in contention following a lengthy absence.
Defensive Concerns Persist
Additional concerns surround defender William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard, who were absent for the Chelsea match. Therefore, new recruits Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are likely to keep their places in the heart of the defence for the league leaders.
Arteta believes the £250m spend on new players during the summer has left Arsenal in a far better place to deal with such setbacks.
Squad Depth Vital for Title Challenge
In response if increased squad depth was helping their title quest, his response was positive. “Indeed, as this campaign has been worse in the attacking line, and now the problems with the defence,” he added.
“Our previous experiences taught us that we have to use players in various roles, and they have to be able to fulfil different roles if we want to compete at the top. And the example of Mikel Merino.”
Manager’s Sympathy for Frustrated Star
Commenting on the delay highlighted by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, the manager gave additional context. “He followed all protocols. He could not go to the subsequent stage and now it’s looking like we have overcome that hurdle.”
Arteta expressed his eagerness to welcome him back. “The team is keen to have him. I mean, it’s a player that, personally, I love so much for his contributions to the team, but his character, his nature. I see him suffer being outside.”
“His fitness history is exceptional, he's rarely been injured, and I look forward to see him return involved playing because I feel it’s going to be a huge lift.”
