Arsenal duo Havertz and Odegaard fit to face Chelsea as Timber backs team to turn things around | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has received a much needed boost ahead of Arsenal’s crucial clash at Chelsea with both Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard declaring themselves fit to play.

The Arsenal manager takes his men to Stamford Bridge seven points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. Arsenal’s slow start to the season was compounded by a controversial first Champions League defeat of the season away to Inter Milan in midweek.

That made it three losses from their last six matches in all competitions. The match ended with key forward Havertz, signed from London rivals Chelsea, leaving the action with blood streaming down his face following an unfortunate clash of heads.

The German forward raised half a smile as he left the San Siro stadium for Arsenal’s late flight back to London but managed a reassuring nod and confirmed that he felt fine after receiving some stitches to stem the flow.

Havertz’s exit prompted Arteta to send on fit again captain Odegaard for the first time in the two months since he sustained an ankle injury on international duty with Norway.

Arsenal win 66 per cent of their matches with Odegaard in the side. That success ratio drops to 47 per cent without his creative input.

He did enough to show he can be part of his side’s plans for what will be another severe test against in-form Chelsea.

And defender Jurrien Timber moved to reassure supporters Arsenal will get back to winning ways. He said: “I have a lot of trust in the team and we’ll be fine, for sure.”

The early season defeats amounts to the same number of losses they suffered in their previous 32 matches, a clear indicator Arsenal are out of sorts.

Timber claimed their faith in Arteta and each other remains undiminished. He added: “We have to be confident; we’ve had a couple of tough matches and Sunday will be tough again, but I believe in our squad.”

Reflecting on their defeat in Italy, in which Arsenal had a significantly better XG than Inter and sent a huge 46 crosses into the Italian side’s penalty area, he added: “It’s very frustrating. We played a good game; we dominated a lot but we didn’t score.

“In the Champions League, you have to score if you want to win. It’s a tough away game and small moments can decide a game.

“We have quality – we just need a little bit of luck to score goals.”