Mikel Arteta has confirmed Kai Havertz suffered ‘a big cut’ in the Champions League defeat to Inter Milan but expects him to be ready for Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea this weekend.
The Gunners toiled in Italy as they suffered their first defeat in Europe this season. Arteta was left furious with two penalty decisions, one of them resulting in the winning goal from Hakan Calhanoglu, believing his side should have ‘100 per cent’ been handed a spot kick for a foul on Mikel Merino.
As the visitors pushed for an equaliser, Havertz was forced off heading into injury time after a nasty clash of heads with Inter defender Yann Bisseck.
Physios attended to both players with the Germany international leaving the pitch with blood pouring from his head. Havertz was replaced by Martin Odegaard, making his first appearance for the club since late August having recovered from a significant ankle injury.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Arteta confirmed his forward would likely need stitches but was hopeful the injury won’t rule him out of the trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
‘Regarding Kai, yeah, he’s got a big cut,’ Arteta said. ‘He needed to come off because he needed some stitches, but hopefully he’s going to be okay for the weekend.’
Merino, involved in both those first-half penalty incidents, did not emerge for the second-half with Gabriel Jesus replacing him at the break.
Arteta felt his midfielder had been ‘punched in the head’ by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer in the earlier penalty incident but explained his withdrawal was not a result of that clash.
‘He was not concussed. But yesterday and today he was already not feeling great. After, when I looked at him, I decided to take him off because I need him 100%.’
Arsenal’s season has hit a rocky path having lost away to Newcastle United on Sunday, having not won in their last three Premier League outings.
Arteta however is confident his side will react in the right manner on Sunday against Chelsea.
‘If we play the way we play, we‘ll have a big chance to win against Chelsea. That‘s the way we have to go. I told them that I’m proud of them.
‘I haven‘t seen them play in Europe in the manner that we have today. We are disappointed because we didn’t get what we wanted out of the game, that’s for sure.’
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