🔗 Share this article Mikel Arteta Praises a More Dependable Squad and Acknowledges Havertz Injury Blow. Arsenal's manager has expressed confidence that his team can continue to cope with injury setbacks following revealing that attacker Kai Havertz is not ready for a few more weeks. Prolonged Recovery for German Star The German forward has been out for months following knee surgery. Hoped to come back earlier in December, Arteta revealed the player hit a snag when advancing his rehabilitation and could not progress “the next phase.” “We learned, and we were able to put together a group that is far more dependable and has greater depth,” commented Arteta. Tactical Decisions for Midweek Fixture This news leaves a selection headache for Wednesday’s match against Brentford. A decision is required between persisting with Mikel Merino, who scored playing out of position against Chelsea, or recalling Viktor Gyökeres, who made a return from a muscle injury in the latter stages. Long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus is in contention post-recovery. Fitness Doubts Linger Further fitness issues surround defender William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard, who both missed the weekend encounter. Consequently, recent arrivals Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are likely to start again in the backline for the league leaders. The manager is convinced the significant outlay on new players in the last transfer window has resulted in a much stronger position to handle such setbacks. Greater Options Vital for Premier League Pursuit When asked if a larger pool of players was aiding their title quest, his response was positive. “Absolutely, as this campaign has seen more issues in certain positions, and now the problems with the backline,” he noted. “We learned from the past that we need to utilize players in different positions, and they must be capable to perform various functions if we aim to challenge at the top. And the case of Mikel Merino.” Arteta's Support for Suffering Havertz Speaking about the complication previously mentioned by Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, the manager gave more insight. “He was doing everything. He could not go to the required step and now the signs are like we have solved that issue.” Arteta expressed his personal desire to see him return. “Everyone is eager to have him. Honestly, it’s a player that, in my view, I admire greatly for his contributions to the team, but his mentality, his personality. I watch him struggle on the sidelines.” “His fitness history is exceptional, he's usually fit, and I am eagerly awaiting to see him return involved playing because I believe it’s going to be a huge lift.”