Mikel Arteta has confirmed Kai Havertz will miss Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid, while Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori are available.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Kai Havertz will miss Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid, while Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori are available for the trip to Spain.
Arsenal face Atletico on Wednesday night in the first leg at the Metropolitano, with Arteta providing a clearer squad update during his pre-match press conference.
Asked whether Havertz or Eze would be available after both came off during the 1-0 win over Newcastle, Arteta said: “Kai is out and Eberechi is ready to go.”
That is a mixed update for Arsenal. Havertz was withdrawn in the first half against Newcastle after what Arteta had described after the game as a minor issue, but he has not recovered in time for the semi-final opener. Eze, meanwhile, is fit enough to be involved after scoring the winner at the Emirates before also being taken off.
There was further positive news on Calafiori and Saka. Asked about Calafiori and Jurrien Timber, Arteta initially caused some confusion before clarifying the position. He said: “Jurrien is not in the squad. Riccardo and Bukayo, they are in the squad.”
Saka’s presence is a boost after he returned from injury as a substitute against Newcastle. Arteta said after that game that the winger looked sharp, and he is now in contention again for one of Arsenal’s biggest fixtures of the season.
Calafiori is also available after missing the Newcastle matchday squad despite training before the game. His return gives Arteta another defensive option for a tie that is expected to place heavy demands on Arsenal’s back line.
Timber, however, remains unavailable. The defender has been absent in recent weeks and Arteta said Arsenal still do not know exactly when he will return.
“We don’t know yet,” Arteta said. “He is doing some stuff on the pitch at the moment, but we need to get the gears up and be able to do more things before he can compete with us.”
That leaves Arsenal with a stronger squad than they had during some recent domestic fixtures, but still without two important players in Havertz and Timber. The availability of Eze, Saka and Calafiori gives Arteta more flexibility, particularly in attacking areas and on the left side of defence.
Arsenal travel to Madrid looking to establish an advantage before the second leg at the Emirates. Arteta said his side have prepared “to win it”, but the injury picture will still shape how he balances control, attacking threat and squad management in the first leg.