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Arsenal will have a key striker Kai Havertz available for their Premier League match at Brighton and Hove Albion, manager Mikel Arteta he said on Friday.
Havertz, who scored Arsenal’s winner against Ipswich Town last week, missed the 3-1 away win over Brentford due to illness which has affected several players in Arteta’s squad.
Asked if Arsenal plans are strengthening their team with all the signings in January transitional periodArteta said: “I don’t know. The focus is on the players we have.
“If there is someone on the market who we can afford and we believe will have a real impact on the team, then we must always be open to that possibility. At the moment the focus is on what we have.
“All the players that are here, they want to focus on performing and impacting the team and if something happens there then we will assess it.”
Pressed on whether signing the striker would make the Gunners a more permanent title challenger, Arteta replied: “I don’t know, it could be perception, it could be reality. Signing a signature is not enough, that’s for sure because that signature then has to score how many goals? A lot of things have to happen.
“Sign and then I give 20 goals from here to the end and then you have a better chance? Maybe, yes. I don’t know!
“But I’m very happy with the players we have. If you look at the number of goals we score, it is more than enough to win the Premier League, as well as our other numbers. But the reality is that if someone works harder, that’s life, so we have to be better.”
Second-placed Arsenal are six points adrift of Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and the north London club will look to increase the pressure on the leaders and close the gap with victory over 10th-placed Brighton on Saturday. Liverpool are next on the field on Sunday, when they take on Manchester United.
Asked if German Havertz would travel to the Amex Stadium, Arteta told reporters: “I think so, yes. Those who are sick, I think will be OK. They will train today and if all are well then they will be available.
“(Raheem Sterling) is starting to do some things on the field, so that’s great news. Let’s see how he goes next week, and we’ll see if he’s available for next week.
“Ben (White) is still a few weeks away and (Takehiro) Tomiyasu has done some things on the pitch but we have to see. It’s been a long-term injury and we have to see how quickly he progresses and how he reacts.”
Arteta also explained his decision to bench midfielder Declan Rice for the win over Brentford, saying he was trying to manage the England international’s minutes.
“He played so much football. We’ve had nine games in this period and he’s had some lapses in the last couple of games where he’s had to sit out. We have to manage every player and he is no exception – added the Spaniard.
Reuters