Mikel Arteta confirmed that Kai Havertz will miss Wednesday’s crucial Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid but Arsenal will be boosted by Bukayo Saka being in the squad.
It is a critical time for the Gunners as they seek to win both the Premier League and the Champions League and Arteta must juggle injuries with a tight schedule to get the best out of his group of players.
Arsenal were dealt a double injury blow at the weekend during their 1-0 victory over Newcastle as both Havertz and Eberechi Eze were forced off the pitch either side of half-time.
The Arsenal boss provided an update on both players though it was contrasting fortunes as he revealed: “Kai [Havertz] is out and Ebs [Eze] is ready to go”
Following the victory over Newcastle, Arteta had spoken about Havertz’s injury and explained: “He had a little niggle. I don’t know how serious it is. It didn’t look to big.
“The action, the way he describes it, is not too sharp. But we have to wait and see.”
With the versatitle striker now confirmed to be absent for at least the semi-final first leg it seems likely that Viktor Gyokeres will lead the line and perhaps be helped by the return of Bukayo Saka?
Arteta confirmed that the winger is in the squad for tomorrow’s clash though he may not be fit enough to start. Saka returned from an Achilles injury last Sunday and played the final 10 minutes against Newcastle but if he is fit and firing then Arsenal will need his skills on the right side of the pitch.
Elsewhere, Riccardo Calafiori, who has not started two consecutive Premier League matches since the start of December, was left out of the squad for the Newcastle match but will be involved against Atletico Madrid.
The final update was for Jurrien Timber and Arteta said that the defender, who has been missing for a month, “needs to do more before he can compete with us”.
Of Arsenal’s Champions League opponents, Arteta added: “[Atleti] are very strong at both ends, otherwise they would not be here. The energy they create in the stadium, how they believe in it. We have prepared the game to win it.
“I think a lot of the work he’s [Diego Simeone] carried out, he has transformed the club in 15 years. The way he has done it, I have always had admiration for these kind of people. He is very connected to the club. He is an absolute role model.”
