Arsenal return to Premier League action in Saturday evening’s clash with Brentford at the Emirates, with the Gunners going into it on a high after the midweek win over Real Madrid
Arsenal’s golden week has continued after it emerged that Kai Havertz could make a shock return before the end of the season. Fresh from the stunning Champions League quarter-final first-leg rout over Real Madrid, Havertz’s potential comeback is the latest boost for Mikel Arteta’s men.
The German forward’s participation this term was expected to be over after he suffered a hamstring injury during the mid-season Dubai training camp. Havertz, who underwent surgery in February, has made good progress in his recovery and shared a video of his rehab on social media earlier this week.
And asked whether there was now a chance that Havertz could play again, Arteta said: “Let’s see. Hopefully we can have Kai Havertz back before the end of the season. Once you get to the last stage of that rehab, you can understand better how close or far you are to make that next step.”
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The potential return of Havertz provides another welcome tonic amid the feel-good-factor at the Emirates. Arsenal have one foot in the Champions League last four after cruising to a 3-0 victory over Real – with their season seemingly set to be defined on how they perform in Europe.
On the back of their season-best showing on Tuesday night, Arsenal face Brentford knowing full focus, for now, is back on the Premier League. With an 11-point deficit to make up on runaway leaders Liverpool, the chances of domestic silverware appears a forlorn task.
Arteta said: “It’s not about bringing the players back down, it’s about maintaining that energy and that momentum. That game is over and now the full focus on is on Brentford because it’s a game that’s going to require the best of us.
“We play every three days. We play in different competitions, the biggest stages, playing in Europe, then coming back to the Premier League.
“And having a completely different game, different opposition and context around the game. What we have to do is win our football matches, be better in our (league) position and then wait what happens.”
With one eye on Wednesday night at the Bernabeu, the Gunners boss is expected to make changes with two-goal hero Declan Rice among those rested to aid his recovery from a foot issue.
Rice had revealed he ignored advice from Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover before firing the first of two spectacular free-kicks against Real. And Arteta has encouraged his Arsenal players to continue defying instructions if it means creating more magic moments.
He added: “They have to make the decision, we are here to help them, to try and paint the picture of what the options are. But I loved it. I think when we talk about making the next step, it’s a lot about that. It’s about initiative, making things happen on the pitch and believing you can actually win the game by yourself.”
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