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The Gunners' boss remains confident that his squad can persist in handling with injury setbacks following confirming that attacker Kai Havertz will not return for the coming weeks.

Extended Absence for Havertz

Havertz has been absent since August following knee surgery. Initially expected to return at the start of this month, Arteta explained the player hit a snag when advancing his rehabilitation and failed to reach “the next phase.”

“Our experience helped us build a group that is much more reliable and has increased versatility,” Arteta said.

Tactical Decisions for Brentford Clash

This update leaves a dilemma for the midweek home game against Brentford. Arteta must choose between sticking with Mikel Merino, who scored in an unfamiliar forward role on Sunday, or recalling Viktor Gyökeres, who featured briefly off the bench off the bench. Long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus is also in contention following a lengthy absence.

Fitness Doubts Persist

Additional concerns affect defender William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard, who sat out the Chelsea match. Therefore, new recruits Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié will probably continue in the backline for the table-toppers.

Arteta believes the £250m spend on squad depth in the last transfer window has placed the club in a much stronger position to handle such unavailability.

Greater Options Key to Title Challenge

When asked if more options was benefiting their title quest, his response was positive. “Absolutely, because this season has seen more issues in certain positions, and now the situation with the backline,” he continued.

“We learned from the past that we need to utilize players in different positions, and they must be capable to adapt to new tasks if we aim to challenge at this level. And the example of Mikel Merino.”

Manager’s Sympathy for Suffering Star

Addressing the setback previously mentioned by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, Arteta provided further detail. “He followed all protocols. He failed to advance to the subsequent stage and now the signs are like we have solved that issue.”

Arteta expressed his keenness to see him return. “The team is keen to have him. Truly, Havertz is someone that, in my view, I love so much for his contributions to the team, but his character, his nature. I observe his frustration on the sidelines.”

“His availability record is exceptional, he's rarely been injured, and I can’t wait to see him return with the squad on the pitch because I believe it’s going to be a significant uplift.”