Havertz Return Is A Matter Of Days, Not Weeks, Says Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reports that Kai Havertz is close to returning from injury, though Arteta has not confirmed whether Havertz plays against Brighton on Saturday. The forward damaged a knee in the opening

league fixture, lasting only 30 minutes, yet Arsenal still score freely and have reached 31 Premier League goals this season without Havertz on the pitch.

Havertz resumes full training this week after several weeks out, and Arteta expects a relatively swift comeback to competitive action. The Germany international scored 15 goals in all competitions last season, with nine in the Premier League, and also added four assists, giving Arsenal depth in central areas and across the front line.

Arsenal’s attack continues to function well, but Havertz’s return adds another profile in advanced roles. Arteta highlights Havertz’s influence on the collective play and movement in the final third. The head coach also underlines that squad variety is crucial as the season progresses, especially with a demanding schedule and key fixtures approaching in domestic and European competitions.

Arteta explains that Havertz should rejoin the squad group soon, depending on how the knee reacts to recent training sessions. Arteta says: "I think it will be a matter of days, not weeks, the Gunners boss said.Let's see in the next steps how he responds to that. " The medical staff now monitor load carefully, aiming to avoid any setback during this phase.

Mikel Arteta has delivered a fitness update on Kai Havertz and Gabriel MagalhaesArsenal (@Arsenal) December 26, 2025

Arteta stresses Havertz’s tactical value within Arsenal’s structure. Arteta says: "But he is, again, a player that we missed a lot, a player that brings the team into a different dimension. So, I am really happy to have him back soon. " That influence could be important against Brighton’s organised pressing and counter-attacking style.

The Brighton meeting also recalls last season’s tense 1-1 draw, when Declan Rice received a second yellow card for time-wasting and Arsenal finished with 10 players. That dismissal formed part of six red cards for Arteta’s side during that campaign, the highest total in the league, and it shaped the final stages of that contest.

This season, Arsenal’s disciplinary record looks different. The team has collected 22 yellow cards in the league but has not had a single player sent off so far. Asked about Rice’s dismissal in the previous Brighton fixture, Arteta says: "I remember very well. I was very hacked off in the manner that we played with 10 men. So, hopefully, it is going to be very different this time. I think the rules are different now. So, we paid a high price with that rule, and hopefully that stays away, and we continue to play with 11 players. "

Category	Figure
Arsenal Premier League goals this season	31
Kai Havertz goals in all competitions last season	15
Kai Havertz Premier League goals last season	9
Kai Havertz assists last season	4
Arsenal red cards last season	6
Arsenal red cards this season	0
Arsenal yellow cards this season	22

As Arsenal prepare for Brighton, the likely short wait for Havertz’s return offers Arteta another attacking option and a familiar link in possession. Combined with a cleaner disciplinary record this season, Arsenal aim to manage key moments better while integrating Havertz carefully after the knee problem suffered in the opening league match.