Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that both Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze are dealing with minor fitness concerns following the Gunners’ 1-0 victory against Newcastle United this past Saturday. The two players were central to the match’s decisive moment, with Havertz providing the assist for Eze’s match-winning strike in the ninth minute. However, the celebrations were tempered by physical setbacks that forced both attackers out of the contest prematurely.
The German international was the first to depart the pitch after receiving attention from the club’s medical personnel for a knee-related issue. Havertz was subsequently replaced by Viktor Gyökeres, while Eze’s afternoon also ended early when he was substituted during the second half of the encounter.
Addressing the media after the final whistle, Arteta described the setbacks as minor but noted that a full assessment was still pending.
“Both of them had to come off, I think it was small niggles,” the Spaniard explained to the press corps. “We don’t know the extent of that. Probably tomorrow we will know more.”
The timing of these injuries is particularly sensitive for the North London side, as they prepare for a high-stakes midweek journey to face Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. The medical team is expected to conduct further evaluations to determine if the duo will be fit enough to travel for the European clash. With the schedule intensifying, the availability of both Havertz and Eze remains a primary concern for Arteta as he balances domestic ambitions with continental requirements.
