Mikel Arteta has responded to rumours of an Arsenal sickness bug after Kai Havertz was left out of the squad who beat Brentford on Wednesday. Havertz was a surprise omission on New Year’s Day given he had started and scored in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory against Ipswich Town on December 27.
![[BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Mikel Merino of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Arsenal FC at the Brentford Community Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_234718361-d77b.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Arteta has confirmed that the German did not feature in the 3-1 Premier League win over Brentford due to illness. It marks the first time since Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 that he has missed a match over illness or injury.
![[Brentford FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2191491315.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘With Kai [Havertz] it was obvious,’ Arteta said in his post-match press conference. ‘He wasn’t feeling well at all and he had very clear symptoms so stay away from it, put him in a car and go back to home.’. Quizzed on general illness within Arsenal’s squad and how disruptive the bug was in the team, Arteta added: ‘Yes [there is illness] on the pitch and off the pitch as well.
‘But these things happen, I mean, in this period there’s always things; throat infections, viruses. ‘So I tried to delay the line-up as well as far as possible because you can get up in the morning and have a surprise unfortunately. ‘I hope [players will be fit for Saturday’s match against Brighton]. It’s nothing serious but they weren’t in the ideal condition to play today.
