Mikel Arteta offers Kai Havertz injury update after confirming Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka situation

Arsenal have been without top scorer Kai Havertz since February but Bukayo Saka’s swift return has given Gunners fans some hope the German could be back ahead of schedule

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hasn’t ruled out a return for Kai Havertz before the end of the season. The German international underwent hamstring surgery after picking up a problem during a mid-season training camp, with the injury expected to bring his campaign to an early end, but there is optimism over an unlikely comeback ahead of schedule.

The Gunners have dealt with a number of injury blows during the campaign, with forward Gabriel Jesus ruled out for the campaign after ACL surgery. Bukayo Saka made a speedy return, though, and it hasn’t escaped the attention of some people that his injury was the same kind currently keeping Havertz on the sidelines.

On Thursday, footage emerged of Havertz stepping up his rehab. “Step by step” was the caption on the video, which was also shared to Arsenal’s Instagram page.

During a pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League match against Brentford, it was pointed out to Arteta that Saka took 104 days to return after suffering his injury in December. A similar recovery period for Havertz would see him back just in time for the Champions League final.

Arteta was hopeful the former Chelsea star could be back if Arsenal make it to Munich for the final, but wasn’t getting ahead of himself. “Every injury isn’t the same,” he said.

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However, he noted: “The mindset of [Havertz and Saka], though is very, very similar. They have a great injury history, great work ethic, are desperate to get back playing as quickly as possible, and we have great medical staff as well to look after them.

“Hopefully we can have him [this season], but let’s wait. Once you get to the last stage of the rehab is when you can better understand how close or far away you are to making that next step.”

Arteta also provided the latest on Saka, Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori. Rice and Saka were both withdrawn before full-time during the midweek victory over Real Madrid, while Calafiori hasn’t featured since picking up an injury on international duty with Italy in March.

“With Dec and Bukayo, they’re both fit,” the manager said. “So it was just a matter of two kicks and they recovered well, so they are available for tomorrow.”

“Ricky’s progressing really well. I think to give you a timeline is difficult because he needs to step up, especially having more people around and how he reacts after that. But he’s in a good place.”

Opponents Brentford have been dealing with injuries of their own. Manager Thomas Frank confirmed Gustavo Nunes, Aaron Hickey and Igor Thiago are all on the comeback trail but doesn’t expect any of the trio to return this weekend.

“The three guys who are getting closer – Hickey, Thiago and Gustavo – are progressing and going in the right direction,” Frank told reporters. “Gustavo is the closest of the three. Let’s see.”

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