Mikel Arteta has delivered an encouraging fitness update regarding three key Arsenal players, with Kai Havertz, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber all expected to be available for selection this weekend. The Gunners manager now has an almost complete squad at his disposal as his team prepares for a crucial Premier League fixture against Leeds United.
Triple Fitness Boost for Arsenal
Arteta confirmed that the defensive duo of Saliba and Timber, who both missed the midweek Champions League victory over Kairat due to what were described as minor "niggles", have recovered well from their issues. The manager explained that their absence from that match provided a valuable opportunity to rest and refresh the players ahead of the demanding domestic schedule.
Havertz's Successful Return
Perhaps most significantly, German international Kai Havertz made his first competitive start in over a year during the European fixture and marked the occasion with a goal in Arsenal's 3-2 success. While Arteta acknowledged that the attacking midfielder's minutes will need careful management following such an extended period out of action, he confirmed there had been no adverse reaction to his return.
"He is ready, obviously he started the other day," Arteta stated. "It's been a long period and now we need to manage that load and the games we're going to select for him to start. But there was no reaction to that, I think it was super positive, you could see straightaway the impact that he can have in the team."
Almost Full Squad Available
The positive news extends beyond the trio, with Italian defender Ricciardo Calafiori also in contention after making his first start of 2026 during the midweek match. This leaves only young prospect Max Dowman as the sole player currently sidelined, providing Arteta with significant selection options as Arsenal aim to maintain their position at the Premier League summit.
Title Race Context
Arsenal begin the weekend four points clear of both Manchester City and Aston Villa at the top of the table, though a recent defeat to Manchester United has prompted questions about the team's mentality in the title race. Arteta dismissed these concerns, emphasising the need for perspective and optimism within the squad.
"It's about understanding where you are," the manager stressed. "Certainly when you lose a game you have a lot of feelings, especially this group of players because they are so competitive. They search for excellence and when you don't reach it, you ask questions, and we did that."
Arteta added: "My role there is to bring optimism and reality of where we are. Our club has a long, long history and to find the position we are in February, it's hard to find."
Looking Ahead to Leeds
With the fitness concerns largely resolved, Arsenal can now focus fully on their upcoming Premier League encounter. The availability of Havertz provides a significant boost to the team's attacking options, while the return of Saliba and Timber strengthens the defensive unit ahead of what promises to be a challenging away fixture.
Arteta expressed his satisfaction with the current situation, stating: "We didn't have any surprises [against Kairat], hopefully everybody will train well today and be available for tomorrow." The manager's positive update suggests Arsenal will travel to Yorkshire with confidence as they seek to extend their advantage at the top of the table.
