Kai Havertz is set to potentially return to action for Arsenal in just a few days, following his recovery from a knee injury, according to manager Mikel Arteta. The 26-year-old forward has been sidelined since August due to a setback that required surgery. There were hopes of an earlier return, but Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann revealed last month that Havertz had experienced “a small relapse” during his recovery process.
Havertz has recently resumed full training with the Arsenal squad in preparation for their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace. After the match, Arteta expressed optimism regarding Havertz’s imminent return, stating, “Quite close. I think it will be a matter of days if not weeks. Let’s see in the next stage how he responds to that. He’s a player that we’ve missed a lot. A player that brings the team into a different dimension. So, really happy to have him back soon.”
If his return is indeed a matter of days, Havertz could make his comeback in Arsenal’s Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion on December 27. Following that, the team will face Aston Villa on December 30, before traveling to Bournemouth on January 3.
On a different note, the situation regarding Gabriel, the Brazilian centre-back, appears to be less promising, as he has not yet returned to training after suffering a thigh injury in November. Arteta mentioned, “We have to wait and see again. He hasn’t trained yet. He’s stable in his rehab. But hopefully, we get him back as soon as possible because we know the situation that we have in the backline.”
In addition to Gabriel, the club also faces challenges with longer-term absentees Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera, while Brighton is dealing with injury concerns over Piero Hincapie, who missed their recent victory against Palace due to an injury sustained in a previous match against Everton.
Arsenal fans can remain hopeful with Havertz’s possible return, as his presence on the pitch is expected to significantly enhance the team’s dynamics moving forward.