Early Arsenal optimism around latest injury setback

There’s initial optimism around Kai Havertz’s injury prognosis, despite the player’s emotional reaction to the setback at the weekend.

Football insider Hand of Arsenal reports on social media that there is cautious optimism around Kai Havertz’s injury, following the player’s early substitution against Newcastle United on Saturday.

Though the report adds that the timeline for the injury is yet to be determined, the good news is that initial fears of a really serious injury have reportedly been alleviated.

Whether that means Havertz is in line for an immediate return on Wednesday is another matter, with Arsenal’s open training session in front of the media on Tuesday likely to provide some answers on that front.

UEFA competitions require an open training session in front of journalists the day before every game, so it’s difficult to hide any injury returners.

Arsenal fans will be keeping an eye out for Jurrien Timber, who appears close to a comeback, Riccardo Calafiori, who was close to making the squad at the weekend, Eberechi Eze, who also came off early on Saturday, and of course Havertz.

Mikel Merino is another one out injured, but it appears there’s no expectation that he’ll make his comeback in the next week or two. The goal is seemingly just to get him back before the season ends.

If Arsenal can at least have Timber, Calafiori, and Eze back fit this week, and Havertz involved for the majority of the remaining games, that would be good news overall.

But for Wednesday’s game away in Madrid against Atletico, there are certainly plenty of lingering doubts.

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