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The Gunners' boss remains confident that his team can keep managing with injury setbacks after revealing that forward Kai Havertz remains out for several more weeks.

Prolonged Recovery for German Star

The Germany international has been absent since the summer following knee surgery. Initially expected to come back sooner, Arteta explained the player encountered a problem when increasing his training and failed to reach “to the next level.”

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

Tactical Decisions for Midweek Fixture

This update leaves a selection headache for the midweek match against Brentford. The manager needs to decide between sticking with Mikel Merino, who scored as a makeshift striker against Chelsea, or bringing back Viktor Gyökeres, who featured briefly off the bench as a substitute. Long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus is an option after 11 months out.

Defensive Concerns Persist

Further fitness issues involve centre-back William Saliba and attacker Leandro Trossard, who sat out the weekend encounter. As a result, recent arrivals Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are likely to keep their places in the heart of the defence for the table-toppers.

The manager is convinced the £250m spend on squad depth ahead of this season has placed the club in a far better place to navigate such unavailability.

Squad Depth Key to Title Challenge

In response if a larger pool of players was helping their title quest, his response was positive. “Absolutely, since the current term has been worse in some areas, and now the situation with the backline,” he noted.

“History has shown us that we have to use players in different positions, and they must be capable to fulfil different roles if we are to fight at the top. And the instance of Mikel Merino.”

Arteta's Support for Frustrated Havertz

Addressing the setback previously mentioned by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, the manager gave further detail. “He followed all protocols. He could not go to the required step and now it’s looking like we have unlocked that.”

Arteta expressed his personal desire to welcome him back. “The team is keen to have him. I mean, he is a footballer who, in my view, I admire greatly for what he brings to the team, but his mentality, his personality. I see him suffer while sidelined.”

“His fitness history 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.”