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Arsenal's manager remains confident that his team can continue to cope with injury setbacks after revealing that attacker Kai Havertz remains out for several more weeks.

Prolonged Recovery for German Star

Havertz has been absent for months due to an operation on his knee. Hoped to come back sooner, Arteta explained the player hit a snag when stepping up his training and was unable to move forward “the next phase.”

“We learned, and we were able to put together a team that is much more reliable and has increased versatility,” stated the manager.

Tactical Decisions for Brentford Clash

This news creates a tactical puzzle for the midweek match against Brentford. A decision is required between persisting with Mikel Merino, who scored as a makeshift striker last weekend, or recalling Viktor Gyökeres, who featured briefly off the bench off the bench. Long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus is in contention following a lengthy absence.

Fitness Doubts Linger

Additional concerns affect centre-back William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard, who both missed the weekend encounter. Therefore, summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are likely to continue in the backline for the table-toppers.

The manager is convinced the £250m spend on new players during the summer has left Arsenal in a more robust situation to navigate such setbacks.

Squad Depth Key to Premier League Pursuit

When asked if increased squad depth was benefiting their championship push, his response was positive. “Absolutely, because this season has been worse in some areas, and now what’s happening with the defence,” he noted.

“Our previous experiences taught us that we must deploy players in different positions, and they must be capable to perform various functions if we want to compete at the top. And the example of Mikel is probably the prime illustration.”

Manager’s Sympathy for Frustrated Havertz

Speaking about the delay highlighted by Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, Arteta provided additional context. “His recovery was progressing. He was unable to progress to the subsequent stage and now the signs are like we have solved that issue.”

He shared his keenness to welcome him back. “Everyone is eager to have him. I mean, it’s a player that, personally, I value highly for what he brings to the team, but his character, his nature. I watch him struggle being outside.”

“His availability record is exceptional, he's usually fit, and I am eagerly awaiting to have him back around the team playing because I believe it’s going to be a huge lift.”