The Gunners suffered a number of injury scares during the international break with Havertz forced off after just 30 minutes playing for Germany against Netherlands in what was Jurgen Klopp’s first game in charge of the national team.
The forward suffered a hamstring strain, returning to the capital for treatment.
Christos Tzolis also picked up a hamstring issue while playing for Greece with Martin Odegaard on the end of a nasty challenge from Bernardo Silva that saw him miss a game for Norway.
Odegaard was able to return to action last Sunday against Portugal but like Havertz, Tzolis left his national team camp early for further assessment back in north London.
Ezri Konsa meanwhile missed England’s final match of the international break against Czech Republic due to an unspecified knock.
Offering an update on his stricken squad, Arteta confirmed Tzolis will be ruled out for ‘a few weeks’ with Havertz and Konsa still being assessed.
Konsa picked up a knock while on England duty (Picture: Wired Photos/Shutterstock)
He told reporters on Friday: ‘Kai has had a muscular injury. I spoke to Jurrien [Timber, who was on the other team vs Germany] and they immediately sent the player back.
‘Ezri has been carrying some issues as well and we had some good communication with the England camp.
‘Tzolis has a muscular injury and he’s going to be out for a few weeks. He’s not available.’
Declan Rice was among the raft of players to withdraw from the England squad before a game was played.
Rice’s game time has been managed (Picture: Getty Images)
While the midfielder has struggled with a neural hamstring issue this year that forced him to play through the pain barrier at the World Cup, his absence from the recent squad was thought to be more a case of load management rather than a new flare up.
Arteta is hopeful his midfielder will be available on Saturday.
‘We have to manage him. He’s had a few issues since he’s come back from the World Cup.
‘We know how many games he’s played in the last three years, it was the sensible thing to do. Hopefully he’s available and some others that well that are in doubt.’
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer (Picture: Getty)
After a lengthy international break, Alan Shearer is back with his latest round of predictions ahead of a weekend of Premier League action.
The action gets underway in north London on Saturday lunchtime, where Arsenal will look to get back to winning ways against Leeds United after being thumped by Brighton before the break.
Chelsea will look to end their three-game winless run in the league against Bournemouth before Manchester United and Tottenham face off as they both look to build some momentum after a sluggish start to the campaign.
And on Sunday, all eyes will be on Anfield, where Liverpool welcome Manchester City, a blockbuster match further intensified by City’s off-pitch controversies during the international break.
Arsenal were thumped by Brighton before the international break (Picture: Shutterstock)
I think Leeds have been really good. That’s not really a surprise because I think I had them just above mid-table in my season predictions. They’re a good team, they’ve signed some good players, and they’ve had a really good start.
Despite Leeds’ good start, I think Arsenal will have to bounce back after that Brighton defeat and I think they will bounce back, so I’m going for a home win.
Prediction: Arsenal win
Betfair Predicts
Arsenal 71% Draw 19% Leeds 11%
Aston Villa vs Brentford
This is a tough one to call. I think Villa needed that win last time out and now with them being at home, I’m just going to edge for a home win and that would tip it in my favour really.
Keith Andrews and the guys did a brilliant job last season and so far, are continuing that this season. I’ve said it many times, anyone that plays them this season knows that they’re in for a game. So, this is going to be a tough one for Villa, but I think the home side will just edge it.
Prediction: Aston Villa win
Betfair Predicts
Aston Villa 36% Draw 27% Brentford 37%
Chelsea vs Bournemouth
Chelsea are winless in three Premier League matches (Picture: Getty)
Bournemouth have been an interesting one this season, they’ve played well at times but haven’t got anything to show for it, they went 2-0 up at Newcastle and didn’t win. I think that’s probably their issue, because they’re that good in the first hour and hour and a bit, and then it looks as if they may tire a little bit. I don’t know. That being said, with Chelsea’s inconsistency and reports they might be missing some key players, I think they could go and get something there. So, I’m going to go for a draw.
I think defensively Chelsea have clearly got one or two issues and still haven’t ironed them out and been difficult for them again because of the international break. So, I’ll be interested to see how that develops and for that reason that’s why I think it’ll be a score draw.
Prediction: Draw
Betfair Predicts
Chelsea 57% Draw 22% Bournemouth 20%
Ipswich vs Fulham
Looking at what could happen at the end of the season, this could be a really big game. Ipswich are strong at home. I don’t know, this is a tough one to call.
I’ve got an inkling for Fulham. I think I’ve seen enough in Fulham. I do think it’ll be a hard season for them, but I think they’ll just maybe have enough. So, I’m going to go away win here.
Prediction: Fulham win
Betfair Predicts
Ipswich 34% Draw 27% Fulham 40%
Sunderland vs Brighton
It sounds as if Brian Brobbey’s injured for Sunderland, which I think will be key because I think he is a huge part in how Sunderland play, especially with the way he holds a ball up. It sounds as if he’s going to be out for the game, which I think will damage Sunderland. Looking at Brighton, I mean, Fabian Hürzeler and his boys have been superb, so I’m going to go away win.
Brighton are flying high at the moment and are in the Champions League spots, but I’ll be really surprised if they ended up there at the end of the season, but I do expect them to finish in around sixth or seventh, which again would be an amazing achievement.
Prediction: Brighton win
Betfair Predicts
Sunderland 31% Draw 28% Brighton 42%
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Manchester United and Tottenham have both started slowly this season (Picture: Reuters)
This is a huge, huge game for both football clubs and for both managers, clearly with the pressure they’re both under. Which is why I think it might be a draw. It’s at Old Trafford, I don’t fancy either team defensively, so I’m going to say a score draw.
The questions will still be there for both clubs and managers if it’s a draw, but that’s why it’s such a huge game because you can imagine the noise if one of them didn’t win. Look at the pressure that Michael Carrick and De Zerbi are under. When you go into the game and if either side lose, you can imagine the pressure is going to be ramped up.
Prediction: Draw
Betfair Predicts
Manchester United 57% Draw 22% Tottenham 21%
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest
Another tough one to call again, and I’m going to say a draw. Both sides haven’t been great for me. So that’s why I think it will be a draw.
Glasner was brilliant at Palace, but he’s still trying to find his feet in terms of getting the system to work there at Forest. I do expect Forest to pick up a bit, but I think this will be another tough match for them.
Prediction: Draw
Betfair Predicts
Crystal Palace 36% Draw 29% Nottingham Forest 36%
Hull vs Everton
I just think with the experience of David Moyes, going away from home, I can see this being a classic sit, defend and hit them on the break performance from Everton. So, I’m going to go away win for Everton.
Everton didn’t really do a lot in the transfer market, but there’s been no panic from David Moyes. He was very measured in everything he said and he did, albeit he probably desperately wanted more in. But I think that’s where the experience comes from. There was no panic from him, which then didn’t send the panic to his squad, you can sort of sense and feel that. He is short on numbers, but with that experience, I do think they could go there and nick a win.
Prediction: Everton win
Betfair Predicts
Hull 26% Draw 29% Everton 47%
Liverpool vs Manchester City
Enzo Maresca’s side have plenty to deal with on and off the pitch (Picture: Getty)
This is a huge game. Liverpool are coming into this one with a few injuries off the back of the international break, but City have injury doubts with Haaland as well after he came off for Norway. I don’t think City have got a great record there at Anfield. So, I’m going to go home win for Liverpool in what will be a red hot atmosphere.
You can just imagine how the fans will be at Anfield. I know all eyes are going to be on the game for obvious reasons. I said it would be red hot, it will be white hot, I think, in terms of how they’re going to react to the situation that City are going through off the pitch. It’s going to be a cracking game, and cracking atmosphere.
Prediction: Liverpool win
Betfair Predicts
Liverpool 35% Draw 26% Manchester City 39%
Coventry City vs Newcastle United
This is a tough one for Newcastle going away to Coventry. Frank Lampard got the win that they needed before the break and he would have had a good three weeks off the back of that. I imagine he would have liked to have another game sooner rather than later to try and continue the momentum, but they will still be feeling good, which is why I think it could be tricky for Newcastle.
Maresca was speaking to the press for the first time since City were found guilty of 114 charges related to financial misconduct and obstructing the independent commission’s investigation.
City have denied all the charges and launched a formal appeal, but could face huge sanctions ranging from points deductions, expulsion from the Premier League and being stripped of the titles they won during the period from 2009-10 to 2017-18.
But Maresca, who returned to the club this summer to replace Pep Guardiola as manager, says he maintains full trust in the club and is confident their innocence will be proven.
‘First of all I trust the club because I trust the people,’ Maresca said. ‘So that is why I joined the club.
‘And then there is not another club where I would try to be. So I’m very happy to be here, I’m very proud since day one. So this is myself
‘I spoke with the club, for sure. We all trust. The right moment to speak about that is when we win that appeal.’
City won the Premier League title three times in the period covered by the investigation (Picture: Getty)
Maresca worked under Guardiola when City won the treble in 2022-23, but the Italian rejected the notion that any of the club’s acheivements had been tainted by the recent verdict.
‘Absolutely not,’ he said. ‘The last time I was here was the treble season. I know the effort from the players, from the club, from the manager in that time, that was Pep.
‘So I know exactly the effort that the club put to achieve that kind of target. So I don’t have any doubt about that.’
Maresca confirmed that he had not spoken to Pep Guardiola since the verdict (Picture: Reuters)
Maresca confirmed that he had not spoken to Guardiola since the win over Manchester United, and also insisted he would have taken the job even had he known about the charges.
‘100 per cent,’ he replied. ‘I know the organisation from years ago. I know how serious they are. They do the right things. I would like to speak about this when we win the appeal.
‘To be honest. We didn’t speak about that,’ he added when asked whether he spoke to City about the charges before taking the job.
‘That wasn’t a problem for the club at the time because they are speaking in an honest way. They are convinced in the end that they are going to win the appeal.’
City can expect a hostile environment for their first game back after the verdict when they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday.
‘I know that Anfield is a nice pitch, probably will even more warm in terms of environment but the reason I decide to become manager is for this kind of game,’ he said.
‘It will be a tough game, tough test, but we need to be ready. The focus has to be about the team, it may be even worse because of the situation. They can absolutely face the pressure; we have players who have faced similar.’
Leeds sit in fifth place, three points behind the Gunners, after their impressive start to the new campaign but are set to be without winger Daniel James for their trip down south.
The former Manchester United star picked up a back injury while representing Wales during the international break.
His national teammate Joe Rodon will also not make the trip to the Emirates, returning to individual training after his recent layoff but not deemed fit enough for this weekend.
‘Joe (Rodon) is on his way back in his rehab making good progress,’ Farke said. ‘He has already had individual sessions on the pitch but it will be a bit until he is back in team training.
‘Also, Daniel James will miss the Arsenal game, so he is out with a back injury.
James will not be available on Saturday (Picture: Shutterstock)
‘He came back with this back injury, more or less, from his national team and for that he is not available for this game.’
Summer signing Harry Wilson did return to training this week but Farke says he will make a late decision on his fitness.
Opposition perspective: Leeds will prefer to deal with Gyokeres instead of Havertz
Leeds United have started the new season in thrilling form but were on the wrong end of a 5-0 hammering in the same fixture last season.
Viktor Gyokeres scored twice that afternoon but according to former White’s defender Matt Kilgallon, Daniel Farke’s side will feel far more comfortable dealing with the threat of the Swede.
‘For me, the only team that ever made Leeds United looked like a newly promoted team, throughout the entirety of last season; it was Arsenal,’ Kilgallon told Metro via a top site to bet on football.
Gyokeres still to start a league game this season (Picture: Shutterstock)
‘Even though Gyokeres scored two of those five goals in the same fixture last season, from my point of view as a centre-half, I would still rather his name on the team sheet than Havertz, 100%.
‘Havertz is an absolute handful, and has a bit of everything about him. It’s not just him individually, but I think that Arsenal also play better as a team and a collective when he plays, just because of his link up play and he has the ability to hold the ball up, to lay it off to runners and bring everyone else around him into play.
‘I just don’t see that as much in Gyokeres if I’m totally honest – it’s just not his game.’
‘Also some good news with Harry Wilson after his muscle injury – he is back in team training since Tuesday.
‘Again, we also have to wait right now how his body reacts but there is also a chance for him to be available going into this game.’
