Arsenal receive unexpected Kai Havertz injury boost

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted fans could be treated to Kai Havertz's unique brand of forward play before the end of the season.

Havertz managed to tear his hamstring while blocking a shot during Arsenal's warm-weather training camp in February. It was widely reported at the time that Arteta would be without his first-choice centre-forward for the remainder of the season, but it has now emerged that Havertz could return ahead of schedule.

The Athletic revealed early on Friday that the German forward's recovery is going well and that Arsenal could look to integrate Havertz back into the team before the season's end, providing they are not putting him at risk of further injury.

That information was seemingly validated by Arteta in his latest news conference, with the Spaniard saying of a potential return: "Hopefully we can have him, but let's wait. Once you get to the last stage of the rehab is when you can better understand how close or far away you are to making that next step."

Arteta's medical diagnoses have been repeatedly called into question. All sorts of confusion tactics have been deployed to keep opposition teams guessing about the availability of Arsenal's key players. Oleksandr Zinchenko previously revealed that Arteta has been known to ask injured players to pose as fully fit while walking off the team coach before a match.

Earlier this year, Gabriel Martinelli unexpectedly returned to Arsenal's squad weeks ahead of the recovery schedule Arteta had mapped out in public.

However, the Gunners have adopted a delicate approach to reintegrating long-term absentees - the caution surrounding every decision made regarding Bukayo Saka's gentle return serves as a prime example.

There is little left to play for domestically, although Havertz could target some involvement in the latter stages of Arsenal's continental adventures. After downing Real Madrid to the tune of a scarcely believable 3-0 Emirates victory on Tuesday night, the Gunners are well placed to reach the Champions League semi-finals. A potential tie against Paris Saint-Germain - Europe's in-form team - awaits with the two legs spread across 29/30 April and 6/7 May before the final in Munich on 31 May.

In the absence of Havertz - and Gabriel Jesus - Arteta has been forced to convert Mikel Merino into a centre-forward. The natural defensive midfielder had not played up front since he was eight but has impressed in this makeshift role. Merino scored the third and final goal against Real Madrid, taking his tally to six in nine games as a striker.

READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP