‘It’s a big blow’: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Kai Havertz injury | Football News
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta on Friday admitted that losing Kai Havertz was a big blow to the club but added that it was an opportunity for them to show their mettle. Havertz recently joined the long l of injuries to the Arsenal frontline players and is set to undergo undergo surgery on a hamstring injury.
“We were having a great camp in Dubai, recharging and training… Then the injury happened in an unexpected way, it’s a big blow because of injuries we have. But fortunately, we’ve been through a lot this season,” Arteta told reporters.
“We have played without (William) Saliba, without Ben White, (Takehiro) Tomiyasu all season, (Riccardo) Calafiori for two months, Mikel Merino for two months, Martin Odegaard for two months, Saka for three months, Gabriel Jesus… all of them. Let’s see what the team is made of… Any team in this league loses four players in the frontline like that and I know what the answer will be,” he added.
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Arsenal are already without Gabriel Jesus (anterior cruciate ligament), Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli (both hamstring) and the only forwards left without injuries are Leandro Trossard, Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling and academy product Ethan Nwaneri.
“It’s too early… When he’s closer, doing more workload, we will see how he is,” Arteta said when asked about Saka.
Arsenal are seven points behind league leaders Liverpool after the midweek Merseyside der ended in a draw. Their next match is against Ruud van Nelrooy’s 18th placed Leicester City who have not kept a clean sheet in their last 17 Premier League matches.
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