Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered a significant fitness update, revealing that midfielder Kai Havertz is in contention to make his long-awaited return from injury this weekend.
Havertz Nears First Team Comeback
The Germany international, who has been sidelined since August with a knee problem, could feature in Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie away to Portsmouth. Havertz has managed just one appearance for the Gunners so far this season, but has now stepped up his training and is close to a return.
"If everything goes well, I think so," Arteta stated when asked about the player's availability. "I think he’s going to be in the squad again in the next few days. He trains well, he’s increased his load, he’s coping with that really well. And it will be great if we can have him."
Increased Competition for Places
Havertz, who scored 15 goals for Arsenal last season, now faces stiffer competition for a starting role following the summer signing of striker Viktor Gyokeres. Arteta emphasised that the former Chelsea player understands the level required to break back into the team.
"When a player has the chance to put our shirt on and compete for us, you know that the demands are excellence - and that’s it," the manager added. "Kai is aware of that."
Arteta's Unhappy Fratton Park Memory
The match will mark Arsenal's first visit to Fratton Park since March 2020, a 2-0 victory that featured goals from Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Eddie Nketiah and helped propel the club towards FA Cup glory that season.
However, for Arteta, the memory is tainted by illness. "I don't know what it was, but I wasn’t feeling great," he recalled. "The moment that we scored the goal I was desperate to go home because I was shaking and not feeling great." It is believed the manager may have been suffering from the early stages of Covid-19.
Squad Rotation Expected
With Arsenal competing on multiple fronts, Arteta confirmed he is likely to rotate his squad during a busy period of away fixtures. Managing player workload is a key priority.
"We have to manage [it], because [of] what is coming again in the next few weeks," he explained. "I think we have four away games in different competitions, and we have to make sure that everybody is participating, we continue to perform and win games. And we’re going to have to manage that one."
The potential return of Kai Havertz provides a timely boost as Arsenal navigate this congested schedule, offering Arteta another valuable option in attack.
