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Mikel Arteta has expressed confidence that his squad can continue to cope with injury setbacks after revealing that attacker Kai Havertz will not return for a few more weeks.

Extended Absence for Havertz

The German forward has been out for months after undergoing an operation on his knee. Hoped to be available at the start of this month, Arteta explained the player hit a snag when increasing his recovery and was unable to move forward “the next phase.”

“We took lessons, and managed to assemble a group that is much more reliable and has more options,” stated the manager.

Tactical Decisions for Brentford Clash

This news creates a tactical puzzle for the midweek match against Brentford. The manager needs to decide between persisting with Mikel Merino, who scored in an unfamiliar forward role against Chelsea, or recalling Viktor Gyökeres, who came back off the bench in the latter stages. Veteran striker Gabriel Jesus is in contention following a lengthy absence.

Fitness Doubts Linger

Additional concerns affect defender William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard, who both missed the weekend encounter. As a result, new recruits Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are expected to continue in the backline for the table-toppers.

Arteta believes the significant outlay on squad depth ahead of this season has left Arsenal in a far better place to navigate such setbacks.

Squad Depth Vital for Premier League Pursuit

When asked if a larger pool of players was helping their title quest, his response was positive. “Absolutely, since the current term has seen more issues in the attacking line, and now the problems with the defence,” he noted.

“Our previous experiences taught us that we have to use players in various roles, and they must be capable to adapt to new tasks if we want to compete at the highest level. And the instance of Mikel is just the best one.”

Arteta's Support for Frustrated Star

Speaking about the setback noted by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, Arteta provided more insight. “His recovery was progressing. He could not go to the next level and now it appears like we have unlocked that.”

Arteta expressed his keenness to have him back. “Everyone is eager to have him. Honestly, it’s a player that, for me, I value highly for what he brings to the team, but his personality, his attitude. I watch him struggle being outside.”

“His availability record is phenomenal, he's rarely been injured, and I am eagerly awaiting to get him back around the team on the pitch because I think it’s going to be a significant uplift.”