Arsenal press conference – Mikel Arteta on Brentford, Real Madrid, Kai Havertz, team news

Mikel Arteta faces the media ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Brentford at the Emirates Stadium

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces the media ahead of Champions League clash with Real Madrid

Mikel Arteta faces the press ahead of Arsenal’s first match after their famous win over Real Madrid as the Gunners host Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.

This is a truly interesting fixture that Mikel Arteta needs to navigate. The title race is all but over, however, after Liverpool were beaten by Fulham, it raises the argument that had the Gunners beaten Everton, the gap would have been nine points with a trip to Anfield still to come.

Yet, resting players this weekend ahead of the return leg where Arsenal will travel to the Bernabeu is incredibly vital too. The question will be can Mikel Arteta effectively rotate his team for this weekend against Brentford and remain competitive in the game?

Los Blancos will have one day less recovery as they travel to Deportivo Alaves, around 400km away, on Sunday afternoon. This will be a boost for the Gunners as is a video released of Kai Havertz in recovery as questions emerge whether the German could make an early return.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attends a press conference before clash with Brentford

Arteta on Kai Havertz

Mikel Arteta has provided clarification on Kai Havertz’s potential Arsenal return after videos surfaced of the German international stepping up his rehabilitation. The club had released a statement which claimed he would indeed be aiming to return at the start of next season.

However, the return of Bukayo Saka after 104 days has raised some questions about whether Havertz too could return sooner than expected. There are 108 days between when it emerged that Havertz had suffered a serious hamstring problem and the UEFA Champions League final.

Putting the question to Arteta, he provided an optimistic answer. There appears to be some potential for him to make a return before the end of the campaign.

Mikel Arteta has missed Kai Havertz since his hamstring injury while away on the Arsenal training camp in Dubai

The fans sing, you got Rice half price, did you?

[Laughs] I don’t thi

On Rice

It was a player that was already made. That’s why we paid the money.

He needs to score more headers, more goals, more tap-ins, more goals from outside the

On Kai Havertz’s potential return

Every injury isn’t the same. The mindset of those two is very, very similar. Great injury history, great work ethic, desperate to get back playing as quick as possible and great medical staff as well to look after him. So, hopefully we can have him, but let’s wait, I think. Once you get to the last stage of that rehab is when you can understand better how close or far you are to make that next step.

On Ethan

For sure I mean, we have to put energy. The players that we have with us, to make them feel

Calafiori

To give you a timeline is difficult but he is progressing well.

On Saka and Rice

So with Dec and Bukayo they are both fit. It was a matter of two kicks, they are available for