Mikel Arteta has given a team news update ahead of Arsenal’s match against West Ham United on Thursday night.

Arsenal's German midfielder #29 Kai Havertz celebrates scoring the team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 17, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz celebrates scoring the team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 17, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal will have a few absentees when they host David Moyes’ West Ham United side on Thursday night, one of whom is Kai Havertz.

Havertz picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in Arsenal’s last game against Liverpool, so he’ll be serving a one-match suspension on Thursday.

As for the rest of Arsenal’s team news, Mikel Arteta revealed that there hasn’t been much progress.

“Nothing has changed yet,” Arteta said. “We have Kai’s suspension so we are a bit short but we still have a lot of players available to play.”

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BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal sprays water on his face during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Brentford and Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium on September 27, 2023 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal sprays water on his face during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Brentford and Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal have a couple of players racing to be fit for a match or two before they head off on international duty, with Takehiro Tomiyasu set to join Japan at the AFC Asian Cup and Thomas Partey preparing to play for Ghana at AFCON.

Both players are still out injured at the moment, but Arteta said it’s not impossible they could play before their international breaks.

“There is a chance,” Arteta told his press conference. “Hopefully they can evolve in the right way. There is some talks between the clubs and the federations at the moment.”

LONDON, ENGLAND: Fabio Vieira of Arsenal leaves the pitch after being shown a red card during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on November 11, 2023. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Fabio Vieira of Arsenal leaves the pitch after being shown a red card during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on November 11, 2023. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Elsewhere, Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber remain out for the long team. Vieira should be back in January, whilst Timber may be available a bit later.

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