Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are set for a major fitness boost as they look to maintain their Premier League title challenge in a busy festive period, with a clash against Brighton up next
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta could welcome back several key players to the Arsenal matchday squad
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Arsenal star Kai Havertz is now just days away from returning to the matchday squad according to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta. The German international has not featured for since August after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.
There had been some hope the 26-year-old could return to action sooner, but Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann revealed the forward had suffered from a setback earlier this month. Havertz was back in full first-team training ahead of the Gunners' Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace.
"I think it will be a matter of days, if not weeks," Arteta said when asked about Havertz's injury. "Let's see in the next step how he responds to that.
"He's a player that we missed a lot, a player that brings the team into a different dimension. So, I'm really happy to have him back very soon."
The Gunners could also welcome back defender Gabriel Magalhaes in the coming weeks, after the defender missed the last nine games with a hamstring injury he picked up on international duty for Brazil.
"We'll have to wait and see," Arteta said when if the defender Brighton. "He hasn't trained yet, he's still doing his rehab.
Kai Havertz of Arsenal
Kai Havertz is almost at the end of his latest Arsenal injury nightmare
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"But hopefully as quickly as possible because we know the situation that we have in the back line."
Arsenal will be without Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White and Piero Hincapie for the clash with Brighton, while Max Dowman is also set to miss the game.
Gabriel Martinelli picked up a knock in their last outing but Arteta is hopeful he'll feature this weekend.
London, United Kingdom - October 21: Gabriel of Arsenal FC looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on October 21, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Gabriel is set to return in January(Image: Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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He said: "Martinelli is more of a knock, and he wasn't comfortable to carry on after the second half."
Arsenal were able to welcome back Gabriel Jesus to the fold in recent weeks, much earlier that expected
"He's very fit," Arteta said. "We've been gradually increasing his minutes. But [against Crystal Palace] as long as he was OK, everybody was happy to let him go on.
"When we get into fatigue mode, we took him off, but we're very happy."
Arsenal are top of the table heading into the New Year but they could be knocked off top spot with Man City in action in the early kick-off tomorrow against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.