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The Gunners' boss feels assured that his side can keep managing with injury setbacks following disclosing that forward Kai Havertz is not ready for a few more weeks.

Prolonged Recovery for Havertz

The German forward has been out since the summer after undergoing knee surgery. Hoped to be available sooner, the manager stated the player faced a hurdle when stepping up his recovery and was unable to move forward “the required stage.”

“Our experience helped us build a team that is far more dependable and has more options,” commented Arteta.

Selection Dilemma for Midweek Fixture

This news presents a dilemma for the midweek match against Brentford. A decision is required between persisting with Mikel Merino, who got a goal as a makeshift striker last weekend, or bringing back Viktor Gyökeres, who featured briefly after a fitness issue in the latter stages. Veteran striker Gabriel Jesus remains an option after 11 months out.

Defensive Concerns Persist

More doubts surround defender William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard, who sat out the Stamford Bridge game. Consequently, summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié will probably keep their places in the heart of the defence for the table-toppers.

The manager is convinced the £250m spend on new players during the summer has left Arsenal in a much stronger position to handle such absences.

Squad Depth Vital for Title Challenge

When asked if a larger pool of players was helping their championship push, his response was positive. “Yes, as this campaign has seen more issues in the attacking line, and now the situation with the backline,” he noted.

“We learned from the past that we need to utilize players in different positions, and they have to be able to adapt to new tasks if we want to compete at this level. And the case of Mikel Merino.”

Arteta's Support for Frustrated Star

Addressing the complication previously mentioned by Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, Arteta provided further detail. “His recovery was progressing. He failed to advance to the subsequent stage and now it appears like we have unlocked that.”

The manager conveyed his keenness to have him back. “The team is keen to have him. Honestly, it’s a player that, in my view, I value highly for what he brings to the team, but his personality, his nature. I see him suffer while sidelined.”

“His playing record is outstanding, he's usually fit, and I look forward to have him back around the team on the pitch because I think it’s going to be a huge lift.”