Injuries have become a significant concern for Arsenal, as manager Mikel Arteta addressed the situation in a recent press conference. Ahead of his team`s Carabao Cup fixture against Port Vale, Arteta provided crucial updates on the fitness of several key players in his squad.
Update on Kai Havertz`s Recovery
Regarding Kai Havertz`s injury, Arteta offered a rather pessimistic outlook, suggesting a potentially prolonged period on the sidelines for the midfielder.
“With Kai, we anticipate it will take months. I can`t definitively say if it will be weeks, as you never truly know with Kai; he`s unique. We genuinely miss his presence. Our hope is for his return, and a long-term one, which is why it`s crucial to diligently care for that knee. So far, his progress has been quite positive.”
Insights into Other Player Ailments
Arteta also delivered updates on various other physical issues affecting the team. Concerning a player dealing with a groin problem, the manager confirmed that a thorough evaluation is underway:
“He sustained a minor groin injury. We need to reassess him over the next few days to determine his condition. There was a shift in his training workload, and he wasn`t able to complete a proper pre-season preparation after his operation. We`ll monitor his status over the coming week. As for a specific timeline? There isn`t one, but I expect it to be a relatively short absence.”
Additionally, another player is expected to be sidelined for several weeks, with further diagnostic scans required to ascertain the full extent of their injury:
“It appears he will be out for a few weeks. We lack a definitive answer at this moment; we`ll likely need another CT scan for him next week. He felt discomfort early in the game and attempted to continue, but by halftime, the pain was too severe, so we`ll have to see. Only a few weeks? We certainly hope so. As I mentioned, we require another scan to accurately gauge the lesion`s severity, but it doesn`t appear to be overly serious.”
Addressing the `Bad Luck` Factor in Injuries
Finally, Arteta tackled the recurring question of whether Arsenal`s recent wave of injuries is simply a matter of bad luck. He affirmed that the club has meticulously investigated each individual incident.
“We have thoroughly examined every situation. The incident involving Noni was unfortunate; a very unlucky occurrence. With Kai, it`s a similar story. The same applies to Ben White. And with Martin (Odegaard) too, as he injured his shoulder twice during the same play on the field, which is highly improbable. For Bukayo, it was more of a muscular hamstring injury, perhaps something that needed deeper analysis, which we have absolutely done. Our continuous goal is to minimize these occurrences as much as possible; that is our constant endeavor.”
