Havertz “Very Close” to Return as Hincapie Earns Boss’s Praise for Stepping Up
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered a mixed update on his squad’s fitness ahead of Thursday night’s crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, with forward Kai Havertz nearing a return but two defenders still sidelined.
Speaking at the club’s training ground on Wednesday, Arteta revealed that Havertz, who has missed recent games due to injury, is on the verge of being available. “He is very close,” Arteta said. “He trained this morning again and hopefully we are going to have him available in the best version of Kai Havertz.”
However, defensive duo Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera will not be ready for the Liverpool match. “They are out again,” Arteta confirmed. “If everything goes well, hopefully very soon they will be available for selection.”
In their absence, summer signing Piero Hincapie has earned significant praise from his manager for adapting quickly to the Premier League. The Ecuadorian, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen on deadline day, has filled in at both left-back and center-back.
“I’ve been very impressed,” Arteta said. “He came in very, very late in the market, without pre-season, and after that surgery as well. He’s been immense for everything that we ask him to do.”
The timely return of Havertz could provide a vital attacking boost as Arsenal look to extend their lead at the top of the table, while Hincapie’s continued reliability offers reassurance in a stretched defensive unit. The stage is now set for a high-stakes encounter that could define the Gunners’ title credentials.
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