Kai Havertz with his Arsenal teammates in pre-season (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has denied ever saying Gunners striker Kai Havertz needs to bulk up when asked by a journalist about it.
Arteta gave his press conference on Tuesday and discussed various topics ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Chelsea.
Havertz could be in contention to play against his former club at Stamford Bridge, although the Germany international has only recently returned from a long-term injury so is unlikely to be slotted straight back into the starting XI.
Yet Havertz was able to make an appearance from the bench in Arsenal’s weekend win over Portsmouth in the FA Cup.
Asked about Havertz’s fitness, Arteta responded to claims he had asked the 26-year-old to ‘bulk up’.
Mikel Arteta clarifies his Kai Havertz comments
? “I don’t think I used that word!
Mikel Arteta on whether or not Kai Havertz should ‘bulk up’ after his injuries…? pic.twitter.com/VqyBCQltX0
– CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) January 13, 2026
Watch the video clip above as Arteta disputes the journalist’s comments, suggesting he was misquoted.
Instead, the Spanish tactician simply explained that he wanted Havertz to improve in a number of areas, as a long injury absence would affect his overall strength…
“I did it?” Arteta said when told he had asked Havertz to bulk up.
“Stronger yeah, but to get bigger, I don’t think I used that word…
“Stronger in all areas, I mean when someone has an injury they have to come back stronger in certain aspects because… you’re going to become weaker because you don’t train, you don’t have the rhythm, you don’t have the abilities to sustain certain actions.
“We need to be stronger in other areas.”
Kai Havertz returns at just the right time for Arsenal
Arsenal fans will be relieved to see Havertz returning to form now after a difficult first half of the season for summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.
The Sweden international has been disappointing since his summer move from Sporting Lisbon, and a fully fit and confident Havertz should be an improvement.
At the very least, it gives Arteta the chance to rotate in this busy period, with Arsenal set to face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup straight after an FA Cup match, and before still more matches to come in the Premier League and Champions League.
