Mikel Arteta confirms huge Arsenal fitness boost ahead of Brighton clash | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has confirmed Kai Havertz should be fit enough to return to the Arsenal squad for Saturday's meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Havertz was left out of the win over Brentford on New Year's Day after coming down with a sickness bug, handing another blow to Arsenal's already-depleted forward line.

Fortunately for Arteta, it appears as though the bug has passed through the Arsenal squad without striking down anybody else.

"I think so," Arteta said of Havertz's involvement on Saturday. "The ones with the illness, I think they are going to be okay. They will train, and if everyone is fine they should be available."

Further down the line, Arteta is excited to welcome winger Raheem Sterling back from a knee injury suffered around the same time Bukayo Saka went down with his nasty hamstring issue.

"He's starting to do some stuff on the pitch, so that's great news," Arteta continued. "As quickly as possible we want him available. Let's see how he progresses next week and then see if we can get him available for the following week."

Defender Ben White remains "a few weeks away" from a comeback, while Arteta will also manage the minutes of midfielder Declan Rice as he continues to struggle with a minor muscle ailment.

"In his case he's played so much football," the Arsenal boss said. "We have nine games this month and he had some niggles in the last few games, so had to come off. We have to manage every player and he's not an exception."