{"id":17072,"date":"2024-11-07T11:27:54","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T11:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=17072"},"modified":"2024-11-07T11:27:54","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T11:27:54","slug":"arsenal-injury-update-havertz-merino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/arsenal-injury-update-havertz-merino\/","title":{"rendered":"Mikel Arteta Offers Arsenal Injury Updates On Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino After Frustrating Champions League Loss to Inter Milan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided injury updates on Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino after both players sustained knocks to the head in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The defeat at the San Siro<\/a> marks Arsenal’s second consecutive 1-0 loss after a similar result against Newcastle in the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Despite dominating possession and generating 20 shots, the Gunners<\/a> failed to put the ball in the back of the net and lost through a marginal penalty call.<\/p>\n

Kai Havertz Injury Update<\/h2>\n

The closing stages of the match saw a particularly alarming incident involving German international Kai Havertz.<\/p>\n

In an aerial duel with Inter\u2019s German defender Yann Bisseck, Havertz suffered a severe head wound, leaving him visibly shaken and bleeding.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old was quickly taken off the field, with blood pouring from the cut, and fans feared he might face a spell on the sidelines. When questioned post-match about Havertz\u2019s condition, Arteta remained cautiously optimistic.<\/p>\n

\u201cKai Havertz had a big cut, and hopefully he will be OK for the weekend,\u201d Arteta revealed, hinting that Havertz could still feature in Arsenal\u2019s upcoming Premier League fixture against Chelsea.<\/p>\n

Mikel Merino Injury Update<\/h2>\n

Arsenal\u2019s Spanish summer signing, Mikel Merino, was also hit with a thwart in a separate clash with Inter\u2019s goalkeeper, Yann Sommer.<\/p>\n

Arteta and many fans alike were frustrated that the incident didn’t lead to a penalty after it appeared Sommer virtually punched Merino in the head.<\/p>\n

Arteta compared it to the handball incident<\/a> that resulted in a penalty to Inter, saying, “If that’s a penalty, then the one on Mikel Merino where he [Sommer] punches him in the head, has to be 1000% a penalty.”<\/p>\n

Merino\u2019s challenge did not result in visible injury but seemed concerning enough for Arteta to make a substitution.\u00a0However, the decision to replace Merino was taken as a precaution, with Arteta wanting to keep him fresh for the weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, he was not concussed,\u201d Arteta clarified, adding, \u201cyesterday and today he was already not feeling great, and I decided to take him off as I needed him 100%.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

"The one on Mikel Merino, where he [Sommer] punches him in the head, has to be 1000% a penalty" \ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta says it's difficult to accept that Arsenal were not awarded a penalty against Inter Milan \u274c pic.twitter.com\/KnsI2BIUDN<\/a><\/p>\n

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 7, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n