Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he likes to challenge to lose his main option towards injury, but believes that the loss of Kai Havertz was a “accident that was waiting to happen” due to the load of players at the top of the Premier League.
Havertz is the rest of the season with an injury to the lower leg and joins Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka aside.
Arsenal is available Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli – all who regularly play on a regular basis.
It remains to be seen who will be used in the central role in the coming weeks.
Medical update Kai Havertz.
– Arsenal (@arsenal) February 13, 2025
Artea said: “We had a great camp in Dubai, filling, training, connecting with nature and different environments. Then a Havertz injury happened in an unexpected way, it’s a big blow due to the injuries we have.
“Fortunately, we have gone through a lot this season, it’s a challenge I have. We love it. Let’s see what the team is composed of.
“If any team in this league loses four players in their line in the first place, I know what the answer will be.”
Arteta said Saka and defender Ben White returned to the early training stages, but she would not be available to face Leicester this weekend.
Arsenal tried to bring Ollie Watkins in January, because they were already lightweight in the attack, but Arthtea says his side will have to deal with their latest loss.
He said, “From the burden and a minute, it is inevitable, it is an accident that is waiting for it to happen. This season is the accumulation of it, stress. Is that bad luck? Surely a schedule is demanding, and for explosive players it is a problem.
“The intensity obviously moved to another level, the requirements we set to players are higher and higher, the consequence of this. Long -term injuries, especially those associated with muscle and tendons, increase.
“We train less than ever. We have less training time. The problem is that the muscles are overly dressed then that the muscles and tendons are not ready to absorb stress and have no time to recover.”
