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Mikel Arteta remains confident that his team can continue to cope with fitness issues following confirming that star striker Kai Havertz is not ready for a few more weeks.

Extended Absence for German Star

The Germany international has been sidelined since the summer following knee surgery. Initially expected to come back at the start of this month, Arteta revealed the player hit a snag when increasing his recovery and was unable to move forward “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 update leaves a selection headache for the midweek match against Brentford. Arteta must choose between sticking with Mikel Merino, who scored playing out of position on Sunday, or bringing back Viktor Gyökeres, who came back off the bench in the latter stages. Veteran striker Gabriel Jesus is available following a lengthy absence.

Defensive Concerns Remain

Further fitness issues affect centre-back William Saliba and attacker Leandro Trossard, who were absent for the Stamford Bridge game. Consequently, summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié will probably keep their places in the backline for the table-toppers.

Arteta believes the substantial investment on reinforcements in the last transfer window has resulted in a much stronger position to navigate such absences.

Greater Options Vital for Premier League Pursuit

Questioned if increased squad depth was helping their league challenge, Arteta was emphatic. “Yes, because this season has been worse in certain positions, and now the problems with the defence,” he noted.

“We learned from the past that we need to utilize players in various roles, and they have to be able to adapt to new tasks if we want to compete at the top. And the case of Mikel is just the best one.”

Manager’s Sympathy for Frustrated Havertz

Speaking about the setback noted by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, the manager gave additional context. “His recovery was progressing. He failed to advance to the next level and now the signs are like we have solved that issue.”

The manager conveyed his eagerness to have him back. “We’re all desperate to have him. Honestly, he is a footballer who, in my view, I value highly for his contributions to the team, but his personality, his personality. I observe his frustration while sidelined.”

“His fitness history is exceptional, he's rarely been injured, and I can’t wait to have him back around the team on the pitch because I believe it’s going to be a significant uplift.”