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Mikel Arteta remains confident that his side can persist in handling with fitness issues after confirming that attacker Kai Havertz is not ready for several more weeks.

Prolonged Recovery for German Star

Havertz has been absent since August due to knee surgery. Hoped to be available earlier in December, the manager stated the player hit a snag when increasing his training and was unable to move forward “to the next level.”

“We took lessons, and managed to assemble a squad that is far more dependable and has greater depth,” Arteta said.

Selection Dilemma for Brentford Clash

This development leaves a tactical puzzle for Wednesday’s match against Brentford. A decision is required between sticking with Mikel Merino, who found the net as a makeshift striker on Sunday, or reinstating Viktor Gyökeres, who made a return off the bench off the bench. Long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus is also an option after 11 months out.

Fitness Doubts Remain

Additional concerns surround centre-back William Saliba and winger Leandro Trossard, who both missed the Chelsea match. As a result, summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié will probably continue in the heart of the defence for the table-toppers.

Arteta believes the substantial investment on reinforcements ahead of this season has left Arsenal in a far better place to deal with such unavailability.

Greater Options Vital for Premier League Pursuit

Questioned if increased squad depth was aiding their title quest, Arteta was emphatic. “Yes, since the current term has presented greater challenges in the attacking line, and now the situation with the defence,” he noted.

“Our previous experiences taught us that we must deploy players in various roles, and they need to be prepared to adapt to new tasks if we want to compete at the highest level. And the instance of Mikel is probably the prime illustration.”

Manager’s Sympathy for Frustrated Star

Addressing the delay previously mentioned by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, Arteta provided further detail. “He followed all protocols. He could not go to the next level and now it’s looking like we have unlocked that.”

The manager conveyed his eagerness to have him back. “Everyone is eager to have him. Truly, he is a footballer who, personally, I value highly for the qualities he offers to the team, but his mentality, his nature. I watch him struggle on the sidelines.”

“His fitness history is phenomenal, he's usually fit, and I look forward to have him back involved playing because I think it’s going to be a significant uplift.”