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The Gunners' boss remains confident that his team can persist in handling with player absences after confirming that forward Kai Havertz is not ready for a few more weeks.

Extended Absence for German Star

Havertz has been out since August due to knee surgery. Originally slated to come back earlier in December, Arteta revealed the player faced a hurdle when stepping up his recovery and could not progress “the required stage.”

“We took lessons, and managed to assemble a group that is far more dependable and has increased versatility,” Arteta said.

Selection Dilemma for Midweek Fixture

This update leaves a dilemma for the midweek fixture at the Emirates against Brentford. A decision is required between persisting with Mikel Merino, who scored in an unfamiliar forward role last weekend, or recalling Viktor Gyökeres, who came back from a muscle injury in the latter stages. Veteran striker Gabriel Jesus remains in contention after 11 months out.

Fitness Doubts Persist

More doubts involve defender William Saliba and attacker Leandro Trossard, who both missed the Stamford Bridge game. Therefore, summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié are likely to continue in the backline for the table-toppers.

The manager is convinced the substantial investment on reinforcements during the summer has left Arsenal in a much stronger position to handle such absences.

Squad Depth Key to Title Challenge

When asked if more options was aiding their championship push, his response was positive. “Yes, since the current term has presented greater challenges in some areas, and now the situation with the defence,” he noted.

“Our previous experiences taught us that we need to utilize players in various roles, and they have to be able to adapt to new tasks if we are to fight at the top. And the instance of Mikel is probably the prime illustration.”

Arteta's Support for Suffering Havertz

Addressing the complication noted by Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, Arteta provided more insight. “He followed all protocols. He failed to advance to the required step and now it appears like we have unlocked that.”

The manager conveyed his personal desire to have him back. “Everyone is eager to have him. I mean, it’s a player that, personally, I admire greatly for his contributions to the team, but his character, his personality. I observe his frustration on the sidelines.”

“His availability record is exceptional, he's rarely been injured, and I can’t wait to get him back with the squad and playing because I feel it’s going to be a significant uplift.”