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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

Mikel Arteta provides Kai Havertz injury update as Arsenal boss explains Mikel Merino substitution

Havertz suffered a clash of heads against Inter - (Fabrizio Carabelli/PA Wire)

Kai Havertz is a doubt for Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

The striker was forced off during the final moments of the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Havertz clashed with Yann Bisseck when competing for a header and left the field with blood pouring from his head.

The Germany international was replaced by Martin Odegaard for the final few minutes and needs to be assessed ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend.

“Regarding Kai, yeah, he’s got a big cut,” said Mikel Arteta. “He needed to come off because he needed some stitches, but hopefully he’s going to be okay for the weekend.”

Arteta, however, has eased concerns that Mikel Merino was forced off against Inter with a possible concussion.

The midfielder took a blow to the head from Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer when trying to compete for a cross.

Merino played on and was taken off at half-time, but Arteta has cooled any fears he was injured.

“He was not concussed,” said Arteta. “But yesterday and today he was already not feeling great. After, when I looked at him, I decided to take him off because I need him 100 per cent.”

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