Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz both started for Arsenal away to Inter Milan on Wednesday night, but neither made it through the full 90 minutes.
Merino came off at half-time for Gabriel Jesus, and it was initially unclear whether or not the decision related to an injury. The midfielder had been punched in the head in the first half, so there was some suspicion of a concussion, but Mikel Arteta cleared those fears up.
“He was not concussed,” Arteta said. “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%.”
As for Havertz, the player clearly was withdrawn due to injury, after a clash of heads left him bleeding quite badly. Again, the question is whether the player suffered a concussion, which would keep him out for a couple of weeks.
Arteta suggested that isn’t the case, with Havertz simply needing treatment for the wound.
“Regarding Kai, yeah, he’s got a big cut,” Arteta confirmed. “He needed to come off because he needed some stitches, but hopefully he’s going to be okay for the weekend.”
With any luck, both players will recover in time for Sunday’s trip to Stamford Bridge. The bright side of their early substitutions is that they should at least be alright on the fitness front.
