Mikel Merino was in the thick of it as Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by Inter Milan in the Champions League [Daniela Porcelli/SPP]

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MIKEL Arteta was quick to allay any fears that Kai Havertz could miss Sunday’s crunch game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after sustaining a head injury in the closing stages of Arsenal’s Champions League defeat away to Inter Milan.

The German forward left the San Siro pitch covered in blood on Wednesday night following a collision with Inter defender Yann Bisseck. But it will take more than a flesh wound to stop Havertz playing against his former side as he goes in search of his 100th club career goal.

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

There was more good news for Gooners going into the London derby. Mikel Merino was in the middle of all the major first-half talking points in Italy: the midfielder was harshly deemed to have handled the ball in the box leading to Inter’s winner from the spot, while he should have “1,000 per cent” had a penalty of his own after being “punched in the head” by Yann Sommer as the keeper rushed to clear Gabriel Martinelli’s cross.

Merino seemingly joined the list of injury concerns when he didn’t appear for the second half, but again Arteta had positive news. The Arsenal boss said: “He was not concussed. 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.”

The best news of all for the Gunners was the return of skipper Martin Odegaard, who made his long-awaited comeback in stoppage-time at the San Siro having not featured for Arsenal since the end of August after picking up an ankle injury while on international duty. There is also hope that Declan Rice will be fit to face Chelsea despite missing the Inter game with a broken toe.

Meanwhile, speaking before the Inter game, Arteta moved to reassure those Arsenal supporters still reeling from the shock news that sporting director Edu has left the club.

The Brazilian resigned on Monday and is now expected to take up a new multi-club role with Evangelos Marinakis, who owns a group of football clubs including Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos.
Arteta said he “loved working with Edu”, before insisting Arsenal’s “very ambitious” vision will continue despite his sudden departure.

“The plan and vision that starts with the ownership is very clear and very ambitious; we are going to continue,” said the Spaniard. “We have a very strong leadership team with unbelievable know-how, real passion, and great feeling for the football club.

“We are not going to stop where we are at the moment. Across the club there is excitement, passion, and understanding of where we want to take this journey, [that] remains in tact. That means opportunities for somebody else to come in to fill that role.

“We move on. We say ‘thank you,’ and we have to move on because that is the reality of our industry.”

Urging everyone involved in the club to “be strong”, Arteta added: “In moments when you have a defeat or two, or certain news that nobody expects, like we’ve always done, we stick together with positive energy and move forward.

“This is part of football, and we have to be very strong, and that’s what we’ve done. We’ve come a long way with that, so stick together.”