Football

Mikel Arteta Offers Arsenal Injury Updates On Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino After Frustrating Champions League Loss to Inter Milan

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James Lloyd
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James Lloyd Sports Editor

James is a sports writer specialising in football news, betting, and statistics. He also writes about various other sports such as darts and tennis, and is an avid fan of both UFC and WWE. His work has been featured on multiple online sports platforms, including Sports Lens and Breaking The Lines. James holds a Master's degree in Sport & Exercise Physiology and currently works as a Video Scout for 360 Scouting.

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Published07 Nov 2024

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided injury updates on Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino after both players sustained knocks to the head in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League.

The Premier League.

Despite dominating possession and generating 20 shots, the Gunners failed to put the ball in the back of the net and lost through a marginal penalty call.

Kai Havertz Injury Update

The closing stages of the match saw a particularly alarming incident involving German international Kai Havertz.

In an aerial duel with Inter’s German defender Yann Bisseck, Havertz suffered a severe head wound, leaving him visibly shaken and bleeding.

The 25-year-old was quickly taken off the field, with blood pouring from the cut, and fans feared he might face a spell on the sidelines. When questioned post-match about Havertz’s condition, Arteta remained cautiously optimistic.

“Kai Havertz had a big cut, and hopefully he will be OK for the weekend,” Arteta revealed, hinting that Havertz could still feature in Arsenal’s Premier League fixture against Chelsea.

Mikel Merino Injury Update

Arsenal’s Spanish summer g, Mikel Merino, was also hit with a thwart in a separate clash with Inter’s goalkeeper, Yann Sommer.

Arteta and many fans alike were frustrated that the incident didn’t lead to a penalty after it appeared Sommer virtually punched Merino in the head.

Arteta compared it to the handball incident that resulted in a penalty to Inter, saying, “If that’s a penalty, then the one on Mikel Merino where he [Sommer] punches him in the head, has to be 1000% a penalty.”

Merino’s challenge did not result in visible injury but seemed concerning enough for Arteta to make a substitution. However, the decision to replace Merino was taken as a precaution, with Arteta wanting to keep him fresh for the weekend.

“No, he was not concussed,” Arteta clarified, adding, “yesterday and today he was already not feeling great, and I decided to take him off as I needed him 100%.”