Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are both battling an illness that has found its way into the dressing room.
Havertz missed the New Year’s Day win over Brentford and, despite initial optimism, was again ruled out for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albionfor which the captain of the team Odegaard also fell to the bench.
With Newcastle United visiting on Tuesday for the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, Arteta admitted both Havertz and Odegaard are struggling with fitness.
“Kai tried but he was really very honest and said: ‘I can’t even train, I don’t feel well at all,'” Arteta revealed after the game. “We tried to see if he could train and he did his best but he couldn’t.
“Martin didn’t train and said ‘I’ll see how I feel (on Saturday) and he did everything he could to be here because we know the numbers we have.’
of Arsenal damage The crisis deepened during the match as Ethan Nwaneri, who has impressed in place of the unavailable Bukayo Saka, was withdrawn at half-time.
“It’s very bad news because I think we’ve lost him,” Arteta said of the teenager. “We had to take him off at half-time with some muscle problems.”
