Mikel Arteta delivers Kai Havertz injury boost

Mikel Arteta believes Kai Havertz will return to full fitness before the end of the season.

The forward was initially expected to miss the rest of the campaign after suffering a hamstring injury in a warm-weather training camp, and hasn't been seen in the Premier League since the Gunners' 5-1 win over Arsenal at the start of February.

"If everything goes the way it's going at the moment, he will have a chance to play a few games before the end of the season," said Arteta in his pre-match press conference.

The German's injury left Arsenal desperately short of options up front with Gabriel Jesus out for the season with a knee injury, further calling into question the club's decision not to move for a striker in the January transfer window.

While Arsenal are likely to sign a centre forward in the summer with Viktor Gyokeres top of their wish list, the Gunners' lack of cutting edge has seen them draw 13 of their 34 Premier League games with Liverpool comfortably going on to win the title as a result.

Arsenal also lacked a clinical goalscorer in their 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-German in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday; Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard found themselves through on goal but both were denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

While nothing can be taken away from the world-class saves, it's hard to escape the feeling a better finisher would have taken at least one of the chances.

The title race is now done while the Gunners have no sweat over their position in the top five, meaning their season all rides on whether they can overturn the deficit in Paris next week.

Should they reach the final, Arteta expects to be able to field Havertz, who scored the game's only goal in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final for Chelsea.

Arteta will also hope that, should they reach the final, he'll have a number of his currently injured stars available.

"I was very shocked before PSG as I was walking into the dressing room and saw all of the injured players seated," added Arteta.

"Tomiysau, Calafiori, Gabriel, Partey, Havertz, Jesus, Jorginho – that’s a starting line-up and we don’t have them for many months."

Liam Williams

• Arsenal F.C.
• Premier League
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