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The Gunners' boss has expressed confidence that his side can persist in handling with fitness issues following revealing that star striker Kai Havertz is not ready for a few more weeks.

Extended Absence for Havertz

The German forward has been sidelined since August due to an operation on his knee. Initially expected to be available sooner, Arteta explained the player hit a snag when increasing his recovery and was unable to move forward “to the next level.”

“We took lessons, and managed to assemble a team that is far more dependable and has greater depth,” stated the manager.

Selection Dilemma for Brentford Clash

This news creates a dilemma for the midweek home game against Brentford. Arteta must choose between sticking with Mikel Merino, who got a goal in an unfamiliar forward role on Sunday, or recalling Viktor Gyökeres, who came back from a muscle injury as a substitute. Veteran striker Gabriel Jesus remains in contention following a lengthy absence.

Fitness Doubts Persist

More doubts surround defender William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard, who sat out the Stamford Bridge game. As a result, summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié will probably keep their places in the heart of the defence for the Premier League front-runners.

Arteta believes the £250m spend on squad depth in the last transfer window has resulted in a more robust situation to deal with such setbacks.

Squad Depth Key to Title Challenge

Questioned if a larger pool of players was aiding their league challenge, Arteta was emphatic. “Indeed, as this campaign has been worse in certain positions, and now the situation with the backline,” he noted.

“History has shown us that we need to utilize players in different positions, and they must be capable to adapt to new tasks if we want to compete at the highest level. And the case of Mikel is probably the prime illustration.”

Manager’s Sympathy for Suffering Star

Addressing the setback noted by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, the manager gave additional context. “His recovery was progressing. He could not go to the subsequent stage and now it appears like we have overcome that hurdle.”

The manager conveyed his keenness to have him back. “The team is keen to have him. Honestly, Havertz is someone that, personally, I value highly for his contributions to the team, but his mentality, his attitude. I watch him struggle on the sidelines.”

“His playing record is outstanding, he’s been always available, and I can’t wait to have him back with the squad and playing because I think it’s going to be a significant uplift.”