Mikel Arteta spoke to the media ahead of Arsenal’s first home game of the season against Leeds United. The manager gave a Havertz injury update, shared team news on Ben White and Christian Norgaard, and praised Saturday’s opponents.
On Kai Havertz’s injury, Arteta confirmed the midfielder will miss the Leeds game. “He’s not fit for this match. We need more tests before we know the full extent,” the boss explained. He refused to discuss the specific injury but admitted the team must explore the issue further.
Asked about the possible scenario, Arteta kept his answer simple. “The worst scenario is that he cannot play tomorrow. I’d love to have him available, but that is not possible.”
Despite the setback, Arteta said Havertz is staying strong mentally. “He’s in a good place, very committed. After hamstring surgery he made an incredible recovery. Now he has another setback, but I’m sure he’ll deal with it well.”
On team news, Arteta revealed Christian Norgaard is unavailable for at least another week, while Ben White will face a late decision depending on his recovery.
When asked about transfer links to Eberechi Eze, Arteta gave little away: “There’s nothing to comment on. I never talk about players who aren’t part of the club.”
The manager also highlighted how important it is for signings to feel connected to Arsenal. “That’s number one. They must want to be with us. Then we look at personality, and the rest follows. If they supported Arsenal, even better—it brings emotion and an extra edge.”
Discussing Viktor Gyokeres, Arteta explained why he only played an hour on debut. “The game became physically demanding and open. We decided to make a change.” He confirmed Gyokeres is ready to play again: “He’s very enthusiastic, trained really well this week, and looks in a good place.”
Finally, Arteta praised Leeds United, calling them tough opponents. “I’m very impressed. Their pre-season, their performance on Monday, and what they did last year all show their quality. They’ll give us a really difficult match.”
Arsenal fans will hope for a strong performance at the Emirates despite Havertz’s absence, as Arteta looks to secure a second league win of the season.
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