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

Prolonged Recovery for Havertz

The Germany international has been absent since the summer after undergoing an operation on his knee. Originally slated to come back earlier in December, Arteta revealed the player hit a snag when increasing his training and could not progress “to the next level.”

“We learned, and we were able to put together a group that is far more dependable and has increased versatility,” Arteta said.

Tactical Decisions for Midweek Fixture

This update leaves a dilemma for the midweek match against Brentford. Arteta must choose between sticking with Mikel Merino, who got a goal as a makeshift striker on Sunday, or recalling Viktor Gyökeres, who made a return after a fitness issue off the bench. Long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus is also available post-recovery.

Defensive Concerns Persist

Additional concerns surround defender William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard, who sat out the Chelsea match. Therefore, recent arrivals Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are likely to start again in the backline for the Premier League front-runners.

Arteta feels the £250m spend on squad depth during the summer has resulted in a much stronger position to handle such unavailability.

Squad Depth Vital for Title Challenge

When asked if a larger pool of players was benefiting their title quest, the manager agreed. “Indeed, since the current term has presented greater challenges in the attacking line, and now the situation with the defence,” he added.

“We learned from the past that we need to utilize players in different positions, and they have to be able to perform various functions if we aim to challenge at the highest level. And the case of Mikel is probably the prime illustration.”

Manager’s Sympathy for Frustrated Havertz

Addressing the delay previously mentioned by Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, Arteta provided more insight. “His recovery was progressing. He failed to advance to the subsequent stage and now the signs are like we have unlocked that.”

He shared his keenness to have him back. “Everyone is eager to have him. Honestly, it’s a player that, personally, I admire greatly for the qualities he offers to the team, but his mentality, his attitude. I observe his frustration while sidelined.”

“His availability record is outstanding, he's usually fit, and I can’t wait to get him back involved on the pitch because I think it’s going to be a massive boost.”