Arsenal Stars Return Early: Major Fitness Breakthrough Accelerates Squad Recovery
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Kai Havertz could be available for selection when the Gunners face Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday's highly anticipated north London derby.
The German midfielder, who was sidelined for the season's opening months due to a knee injury sustained in August, encountered a muscular setback earlier this month and was initially ruled out until after the derby fixture.
"Regarding the weekend match, [Havertz] is definitely in contention, so we're excited about potentially including him in our squad," Arteta commented on Tuesday, ahead of Arsenal's Premier League encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The versatile player has been absent for last week's 1–1 stalemate against Brentford and the FA Cup fourth-round victory over Wigan Athletic, though his spell on the sidelines may conclude after merely three matches.
Arsenal Hope to Welcome Ødegaard Back
Arsenal Hope to Welcome Ødegaard Back
Arsenal skipper Martin Ødegaard finds himself in comparable circumstances to Havertz, unavailable for the Wolves fixture but potentially returning for the brief journey to face Spurs.
"He won't be ready for the Wolves match," Arteta confirmed.
"However, we remain optimistic that he'll be available for Sunday's game."
Ødegaard came on to replace the disappointing Eberechi Eze during the second half against Brentford and sparked improved attacking play, though it failed to secure the winning goal. He subsequently missed the Wigan fixture.
The manager also indicated that neither Riccardo Calafiori nor Ben White face significant fitness doubts for the Wolves encounter and both could feature.
"[Calafiori] is doing well; he participated in today's training session, he's feeling improved, and we're hopeful he'll be available tomorrow," Arteta explained. "It was simply some tiredness [that caused White's substitution vs. Wigan], clearly he put in significant effort during the match and towards the end, he experienced some hamstring tightness, but he's recovered well."
Why Kai Havertz's Return Is Important for Arsenal
Why Kai Havertz's Return Is Important for Arsenal
Havertz's return arrives at a pivotal moment for Arsenal, as his adaptability provides depth and tactical options across multiple positions, with the club still competing in four different tournaments.
The German international featured predominantly as a striker during the previous campaign, meaning he now offers a more reliable alternative to Viktor Gyökeres, who has struggled to find consistent form in Arsenal colors. Havertz's preferred role is as an attacking midfielder, and with Mikel Merino facing an extended absence, Ødegaard dealing with fitness issues, and Eze lacking confidence, his availability provides valuable reinforcement in that area as well.
In his previous return stint from mid-January through early February, Havertz contributed goals or assists on four occasions across six appearances in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup competitions.