Mikel Arteta provides major injury update on Kai Havertz ahead of PSG second leg

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that Kai Havertz could make a surprise return from injury before the end of the season, offering the Gunners a timely boost as they continue to chase silverware and Champions League qualification.

The German international has been sidelined since January with a hamstring injury, and initial assessments suggested he would miss the rest of the campaign. However, the 24-year-old’s recovery has progressed faster than expected, and Arteta now believes Havertz could be available later this month.

“I think so,” Arteta said when asked if Havertz might return before the season concludes. “If everything goes the way it’s going at the moment and the way it’s planned, he will have the chance to play a few more games this season.”

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The Arsenal boss also expressed optimism over the potential return of midfielder Jorginho, who has been out of action for several weeks due to an unspecified issue.

The Gunners host Bournemouth on Saturday evening, with a win likely to all but secure Champions League football next season. The fixture comes just days before their crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, with the French side holding a 1-0 advantage after the first leg in Paris.

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Despite the looming European clash, Arteta insisted his players must remain focused on domestic matters.

“The only thing we can control is our performances, emotional state,” Arteta said. “There are still a lot of things we want to do in the Premier League.”

A victory over Bournemouth, combined with defeats for Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, would mathematically secure a top-five finish for Arsenal with three matches remaining. Still, Arteta was quick to stress the importance of taking things one game at a time.

“We have to earn the right to win the game by being better against Bournemouth. It’s a lot of ifs,” he said. “The most important one is to increase the probabilities of winning our game. That’s the most important thing.”

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