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Mikel Arteta remains confident that his team can persist in handling with injury setbacks after revealing that forward Kai Havertz remains out for several more weeks.

Extended Absence for German Star

The Germany international has been absent for months due to knee surgery. Hoped to come back at the start of this month, the manager stated the player faced a hurdle when increasing his recovery and could not progress “the required stage.”

“We learned, and we were able to put together a squad that is far more dependable and has increased versatility,” stated the manager.

Tactical Decisions for Brentford Clash

This update leaves a tactical puzzle for the midweek home game against Brentford. A decision is required between continuing to use Mikel Merino, who found the net in an unfamiliar forward role on Sunday, or recalling Viktor Gyökeres, who made a return from a muscle injury off the bench. Long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus is also available post-recovery.

Defensive Concerns Persist

Further fitness issues involve defender William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard, who sat out the Chelsea match. Consequently, new recruits Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are likely to continue in the heart of the defence for the league leaders.

The manager is convinced the significant outlay on new players during the summer has resulted in a more robust situation to deal with such absences.

Squad Depth Vital for Title Challenge

In response if a larger pool of players was aiding their title quest, Arteta was emphatic. “Indeed, as this campaign has been worse in certain positions, and now what’s happening with the backline,” he noted.

“We learned from the past that we must deploy players in various roles, and they need to be prepared to fulfil different roles if we are to fight at the highest level. And the example of Mikel is probably the prime illustration.”

Arteta's Support for Suffering Havertz

Commenting on the setback highlighted by Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, Arteta provided more insight. “He was doing everything. He was unable to progress to the subsequent stage and now it appears like we have unlocked that.”

He shared his eagerness to have him back. “Everyone is eager to have him. I mean, he is a footballer who, in my view, I admire greatly for his contributions to the team, but his character, his nature. I watch him struggle being outside.”

“His playing record is phenomenal, he's rarely been injured, and I can’t wait to see him return around the team playing because I think it’s going to be a significant uplift.”