Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals new Kai Havertz update and explains comeback plan

Former Chelsea star to get more playing time but Gunners remaining cautious with his usage after injury nightmare

Mikel Arteta insists that Kai Havertz is "very close" to getting more minutes for Arsenal , but warned caution will continue to be taken with his fitness.

Havertz has played only 30 minutes of Premier League football so far this season, that sole appearance coming on the opening weekend away at Manchester United .

The German suffered a knee injury at Old Trafford that required surgery and Arsenal have been cautious with his recovery.

Havertz was back on the bench against Aston Villa last month but was then left out of the squad for the next two Premier League matches, decisions understood to be down to load management.

The 26-year-old has come off the bench against Chelsea and Portsmouth in the cups, but has not started a match in any competition since February last year.

"He's very close," Arteta said on Havertz before Manchester United visit north London on Sunday. "Obviously he's been out for a long time, almost a year for different reasons. Now we have to be very smart in the manner that we manage that load, the minutes.

“I'm sure in the next few weeks he's going to play minutes. I cannot tell you in which competitions because that will depend as well on the game context and a context that is positive to throw him in or not, with his qualities.

"It's great that we have him, we can use him in different positions and will see him in different positions. We are really happy to have him."

Arsenal are still competing for silverware on all four fronts, sitting top of the standings both domestically and in Europe. They have also made serene progress in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.

It is therefore set to be a hectic conclusion to the season for the Gunners and Arteta is keen to have Havertz firing for the crunch stage of the campaign.

"After a long-term injury it's not only the period that you come in, it's what happens in the next six to eight weeks," Arteta said. "We want to maintain that and manage that really well so after we can creep it up when all the big, big games are coming up.

“We have to make sure everyone is in the right mind and physically at the highest level."

Havertz missed large chunks of last season with a hamstring issue before suffering his knee injury at the beginning of this. However, Arteta is adamant that Havertz will not be held back by doubts over his body and ability to stay fit.

"I don't think so because he's a player that has an unbelievable track record and what happened, okay, it happened and you have to go through that in your career at least once," Arteta said.

"He's gone through that period that has enabled him as well to learn more about the game, about his body and probably about how much he loves playing and how difficult it is in life when football is not a big part of that.

"He looks really, really hungry and I'm sure we're going to see a very good version of Kai."