Mikel Arteta has all but confirmed that Kai Havertz will return before the season ends in a major boost for Arsenal.
Havertz suffered a hamstring tear during the Gunners warm weather training camp in February which required surgery.
It has resulted in the north London club playing Mikel Merino as a makeshift No 9.
In an update to fans, the German posted a video last week of himself undergoing rehabilitation work in the gym.
The 25-year-old is now set to be back ‘earlier than expected’ but not for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final ties against Paris Saint-Germain on April 29 and May 7.
Arteta said: ‘Semi-finals? I think that’s too close. But if I had to bet on him earlier than expected, I would say yes.
Mikel Arteta has all but confirmed that Kai Havertz will return before the season ends in a major boost for Arsenal
The German has notched 15 goals in all competitions for the north London club this season
Bukayo Saka’s return from a lengthy lay-off due to a hamstring tear has transformed the Gunners’ prospects this season
‘The way he works every day in that gym, pushing everybody, I don’t think you can hold him much longer.’
Arteta also hinted that he could experiment with playing the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final first leg.
Thomas Partey is suspended for the match after picking up a third yellow card. Creative options include playing Jurrien Timber or Lewis-Skelly higher up the pitch, or dropping Mikel Merino back into the middle.
He added: ‘Yeah, for sure (confident on adapting player positions). It depends on the players as well if they are comfortable doing certain things and how we can maximise our qualities in relation to the game we expect against them.
‘We have a few options and we’re not going to give anything away!’
