Mikel Arteta welcomes back his creative engine and versatile forward as the Gunners aim to overcome Atletico Madrid and secure a spot in the Champions League final.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are available for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.
Both players were absent from the open section of training at London Colney on Monday, raising questions over their involvement for one of Arsenal’s biggest games of the season. Jurrien Timber was also not seen during the session and Arteta has confirmed the Dutchman will miss the game.
Arsenal host Atletico at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night with the tie level after last week’s 1-1 draw in Madrid. The winner will move into the Champions League final, and Arteta will have two important attacking and midfield options back in his squad.
Asked whether Havertz, Timber and Odegaard were available after missing training, Arteta said: “Yeah, they’re available and in the squad, both of them.”
He then clarified that Havertz was included in that update, before later confirming in Spanish that Timber would not be involved.
“Timber is out, but Havertz and Odegaard are available,” Arteta said.
The update is a major boost for Arsenal before the second leg. Odegaard missed Saturday’s 3-0 win over Fulham, having also been a doubt going into that match. Havertz was absent for the Fulham game too, with Arteta previously revealing the Germany international was pushing to return for Atletico.
Havertz’s availability gives Arsenal another attacking option at a crucial point in the season. Viktor Gyokeres scored twice against Fulham and has found form at the right time, but Havertz offers Arteta a different profile across the front line and midfield.
Odegaard’s return is just as significant. Arsenal coped well without their captain against Fulham, with Myles Lewis-Skelly impressing in midfield, but Odegaard’s control, creativity and leadership could be vital against an Atletico side expected to make the second leg difficult.
Arteta made clear why having both players back matters.
“We need options,” he said. “We need the capacity to play different games tomorrow, whether it’s on the start or after. So it’s really, really good news for us to have them both back.”
Timber’s absence continues to be a significant loss for Arsenal because of the security he brings as Arteta’s first-choice right-back. Ben White started the first leg in Madrid and remains the natural option to continue there, but Timber’s absence still removes one of Arsenal’s most reliable defensive players from a game of this scale.
For Arsenal, the overall team news is still positive. Timber is unavailable, but the return of Havertz and Odegaard gives Arteta more ways to manage the match, whether from the start or from the bench.
With the tie finely balanced and a place in the Champions League final at stake, those options could prove important.