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 German striker, sidelined since August following knee surgery, suffered a setback when he tried to increase his rehabilitation intensity and was unable to “go to the next level.”
Arteta must now decide who will lead the line against Brentford on Wednesday: Mikel Merino, who scored against Chelsea as a makeshift striker, or Viktor Gyökeres, who recently returned from a muscle issue. Gabriel Jesus is also pushing for involvement after nearly a year out.
Uncertainty also surrounds William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, who both missed the Chelsea match. Summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are expected to start again in central defence.
Arteta believes the club’s major summer investment—about £250m—has made the squad “more reliable” and better equipped to cope with injuries, particularly with players capable of covering multiple roles.
Speaking on Havertz’s condition, Arteta said the club has finally “unlocked” the issue that halted his progress. He praised Havertz’s professionalism and said his return would provide a “massive boost” to the team.
