Arsenal fans may finally have reason to smile — Mikel Arteta has delivered promising news about four injured stars, including two who could return this very week. But here’s where things get interesting: not everyone might be back as soon as supporters hope.
Arsenal’s incredible unbeaten streak since their narrow 1–0 loss to Liverpool back in August has kept them perched at the top of the Premier League. Over a 17-game stretch, they’ve managed to dominate domestically, progress in the Carabao Cup, and stay flawless in the Champions League group stage. And they’ve done it all while missing some of their biggest names.
In Sunday’s 1–1 draw against Chelsea, key defenders William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães sat out, as did forwards Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard. The absences didn’t go unnoticed — and naturally, fans began to wonder how much longer Arteta could keep the team flying without them.
Speaking to the press ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Brentford, Arteta offered long-awaited clarity. He revealed that both Saliba and Trossard are just “days” away from being back in contention. “I can’t give you much today,” Arteta admitted with a half-smile. “We still have one more training session, but [Saliba] had a small niggle. It should be only a matter of days.”
Arteta went on to explain that Saliba’s setbacks this season have been fluke injuries. “The ankle issue was random and really unlucky,” he noted. “He tried to push through at Anfield but had to stop. The recent one was strange too, but thankfully, he’s very close now.”
The situation for Gabriel and Havertz, however, appears slightly trickier. Arteta confirmed that both players are expected back in a matter of “weeks” rather than days — but he emphasized that their eventual return will provide what he called a “massive boost” for the squad. “I can’t say exactly when Kai will return — maybe before the end of the month, maybe after,” Arteta said. “He’s progressing well and doing some work back on the pitch, but he still needs a bit of time.”
Arteta’s tone grew warmer when discussing Havertz personally: “He’s doing everything he can, and it hurts him not to be out there. Kai’s a player I really love — not only for what he offers technically but for his mentality. He gives the team a different energy. We all just want him back.”
But here’s where opinions might split: some supporters have criticized Havertz’s performances earlier in the season, while others see his absence as proof of how important he’s become to Arsenal’s play. Will his return silence the doubters — or reignite debate about his role in Arteta’s system?
Away from injury updates, Arteta also took a moment to highlight Declan Rice’s latest accolade: being named the Football Supporters’ Association Player of the Year. “Declan is almost exactly what we hoped he’d become when we brought him in,” Arteta said proudly. “He’s grown on and off the pitch. He fully deserves this — his consistency and ability to deliver in big moments are remarkable.”
So the question remains: with Arsenal’s injured quartet nearing full recovery, could this be the turning point that fuels a genuine title push — or will the team’s chemistry face disruption when these stars return? What’s your take — should Arteta ease them back in, or throw them straight into the lineup?
