The Gunners host Arne Slot’s reigning Premier League champions at Emirates Stadium in a crucial clash on home soil as the current league leaders look to put further distance between themselves and the chasing pack.
German international Havertz has been out of action since sustaining a knee injury on the opening day of the season during Arsenal’s 1-0 away win over Manchester United at Old Trafford but is now closing in on a return to the first-team picture.
“We are monitoring \[him\]. Obviously, he has been out for a long time for two different reasons. He’s very close. He trained this morning again, and hopefully we’re going to have him available and the best version of Kai very soon,” said Arteta at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
While Havertz offers a different profile to summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, Arteta is hopeful of having defensive pair Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera back to full fitness, having been plagued by injuries this season.
When asked whether the pair will be available to face Liverpool on Thursday, the Arsenal boss replied: “No. They are out again. I think pretty soon they have to go to the last stage of their rehab, and if everything goes well, hopefully very soon they will be available for selection.”
Sitting six points clear of nearest competitors Manchester City at the top of the Premier League standings, the match against Liverpool presents another opportunity for Arsenal to make a statement and make up even more ground in the title race.
“It’s a massive game against the champions of the last Premier League, and we have a point to prove,” said Arteta.
“We can go again and again. Every week we have a point to prove. We had it a few days ago against Bournemouth after a great win against Villa, and it’s going to continue like that till May, and we know that because once we are in the position we are in, we want to maintain and extend the lead that we have. In order to do that, our level of determination and desire has to be with that mindset.”
After Enzo Maresca and Ruben Amorim were both relieved of their duties by Chelsea and Manchester United, respectively, Arteta was asked about the difference between the titles of head coach and manager.
The Arsenal boss said: “It was different at the time when they \[Arsenal hierarchy\] proposed to change the role and what they thought about in the areas that I could help more than probably they expected at the beginning.
“But at the end it’s about the relationships and the people, and we have some great teams with very different qualities. When there is somebody who is much better than me at that, I let him do it.
“For me, the title doesn’t really reflect the way we operate daily. I think it’s more important for the people and the morale within the people to really understand to give each other the things that we can master to make us much better.”